Chezuba talks: Impact stories

Ep-78: How do we know that one vote in a sea of millions makes a difference?

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Sarah Wolk, the executive director and secretary at Equal Vote and Star Voting Action, is an expert in sustainability and design with a passion for music, adventure, and community organizing. Sarah is dedicated to building a coalition that can heal democracy by challenging traditional election practices.

Chezuba Talks Podcast Highlights:

0:10 - 0:38:

  • Introduction emphasizing the importance of participating in elections and exercising rights.
  • Questions raised about the fairness of the voting system and the impact of individual votes.

    • 0:38 - 1:11:

    • Greetings and introduction of Sarah Wolk, the guest.
    • Sarah's background in sustainability, design, music, adventure, and community organizing.
    • Sarah's mission to build a coalition for healing democracy.

      • 1:11 - 3:21:

      • Tej's question about star voting and its efficiency compared to traditional voting systems.
      • Sarah explains that most countries use a choose-one voting system that lacks nuance.
      • The limitations of the two-party system and the disadvantage of having more allies in a multiparty system.
      • The need to show support for multiple good candidates.
      • The potential consequences of vote splitting in the current voting system.

        • 3:21 - 6:04:

        • Tej asks about the criticism that star voting is complicated and confusing.
        • Sarah clarifies that star voting allows voters to rate candidates on a five-star scale.
        • The advantages of a five-star rating system for showing preference order and level of support.
        • Comparisons with simple ranked ballots and the inability to express nuanced preferences.
        • Explanation of how star voting is counted and the winner is determined.

          • 6:04 - 7:19:

          • Question about potential gaming of the star voting system.
          • Sarah explains that star voting does not incentivize strategic voting.
          • The current system encourages strategic voting and favorite betrayal.
          • The importance of giving honest preferences in star voting.

            • 7:19 - 9:56:

            • Break to introduce Chezuba and its vision of facilitating skills and passions to meet social needs.
            • Discussion about the changes and voter education required for implementing star voting.
            • Sarah explains that voter education is crucial to ensure understanding and proper ballot completion.
            • Backend logistics involve simple addition and do not require new equipment in most cases.

              • 9:56 - 11:53:

              • Question about successful implementations of star voting.
              • Sarah mentions several groups, political parties, and ballot initiatives that have adopted star voting.
              • Highlights the adoption of star voting in the Oregon Democratic Party presidential delegate elections.

                • 11:53 - 13:26:

                • Discussion about the potential downsides and limitations of star voting.
                • Sarah acknowledges the newness of the system as a valid concern.
                • Emphasis on objective facts and data that support the advantages of star voting.

                  • 13:26 - 15:04:

                  • Question about plans to spread awareness about star voting.
                  • Sarah mentions the focus on videos, podcasts, and news to reach interested individuals.
                  • Appreciation for volunteer-led committees and their contributions.
                  • Positive feedback received from people around the world who discovered star voting through media.

                    • 15:04 - 16:16:

                    • Wrap-up and appreciation for the clarity of the animation video on the organization's website.
                    • Sarah shares the website links: star.vote and equal.vote.
                    • Final thoughts on star voting's potential to achieve more representative and democratic outcomes.
                    • Acknowledgement of the critics' concerns about complexity.


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                      Chezuba talks: Impact storiesBy Chezuba