Answer

  • Score Voting is the voting method where voters score candidates and the highest-scoring candidate wins. One criticism of Score Voting is that voters may be incentivized to only use the highest and lowest scores available to maximize their voting power, which would negate the benefits of the more expressive ballot. In order for a voting method to find the most representative winner, honest and expressive voter data is key. In STAR Voting, it is in a voter’s best interest to honestly show their preference order because, in the runoff, each voter’s one full vote goes to the finalist they prefer.

  • The STAR Voting scoring round and automatic runoff measure two different, important metrics, in essence quality and quantity. The scoring round measures how much, or how little, voters overall support each candidate; this ensures that the two finalists are strong consensus-supported candidates. The automatic runoff measures the number of voters who prefer each finalist; this ensures that the winner is preferred by a majority of voters who expressed a preference.

  • With STAR Voting, each voter’s one full vote goes toward exactly one candidate, and the winner is the finalist with the most votes. STAR Voting dovetails perfectly with a classical interpretation of One Person, One Vote. This makes STAR Voting one of the most legally viable alternative voting methods, naturally complying with election codes and constitutions around the country — and beyond. Another common election code provision is a majority requirement. The STAR Voting automatic runoff elects the finalist who is preferred by a majority of voters who expressed a preference. The fact that STAR Voting includes a built-in top two runoff enables it to eliminate costly separate runoff elections in many jurisdictions.

  • Under Score Voting, voters who don’t score any of the frontrunners highly have less voting power than those who do. With STAR Voting, every voter gets exactly one fully powerful vote for the finalist they prefer, leveling the playing field for voters and ensuring true equality in the vote itself.