The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcasts for November 29, 2022
What’s a Runoff Election and Why Don’t We Hear About it More Often?
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Runoff elections
BallotPedia – United States Senate election in Georgia, 2022 (December 6 runoff)
BallotPedia – Louisiana majority-vote system
Fox 5 Atlanta – Which counties offer Saturday early voting in Georgia runoff election for US Senate?
WAFB Baton Rouge – Early voting underway for Dec. 10 election; Here’s what you need to know
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
November 26th, early voting began for the highly-anticipated December 6th run-off election between sitting U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and football star & businessman Hershel Walker. But what is a “runoff,” and why don’t we hear about it very often?
Only two states have rules which require a “majority” vote to win, vs. a “plurality”: Georgia and Louisiana. In Georgia, a 50% majority is required for congressional, state executive, and state legislative elections. Senator Warnock received 49.4% of the vote to Walker’s 48.5%. Libertarian Chase Oliver won 2.1%. Because no candidate reached 50% plus 1 vote, a runoff is required on December 6th.
In Louisiana, runoffs are required in local elections too, when a 50% + 1 majority is not reached. Louisiana also uses an “open primary” system, where candidates of any party run on one ballot in the primary, and with the top two candidates advancing to the runoff if no candidate receives a majority. Because incumbent U.S. Senator John Kennedy garnered 61.6% of the vote over 12 other candidates in the primary, he won outright on November 8th. December 10th, voters decide on several judicial and city council races, and three ballot initiatives, which weren’t decided November 8th.
We’ll have more tomorrow on how runoffs also play a role in the party nomination process in some states.
We have links to articles and resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.