There has definitely been attention to this question. All of the proposals I support in practice (Approval, 3-2-1, or STAR for single-winner; and PLACE for multi-winner) are among the simpler to vote and to explain.
But most of the research is in the form of proprietary focus groups or polling, so unfortunately there’s no good source I can point you to. I’m working to change that.
I’m assuming that “we” is the USA; and “the system” is FPTP (that is, you’re ignoring the electoral college and the system of primaries and redistricting).
Approval is just as easy to understand, and in fact easier to avoid ballot spoilage.
3-2-1 and STAR are both a bit more complicated, but not much; either one can still be distilled down to 9 words.
PLACE is significantly more complicated for vote-counting, but to cast a ballot, it’s still just about as simple as FPTP. In fact, if you take into account the fact that you are more free to ignore strategic concerns, it’s arguably simpler.
There has definitely been attention to this question. All of the proposals I support in practice (Approval, 3-2-1, or STAR for single-winner; and PLACE for multi-winner) are among the simpler to vote and to explain.
But most of the research is in the form of proprietary focus groups or polling, so unfortunately there’s no good source I can point you to. I’m working to change that.
How does the comprehensibility of these methods compare with that of the system we have now?
I’m assuming that “we” is the USA; and “the system” is FPTP (that is, you’re ignoring the electoral college and the system of primaries and redistricting).
Approval is just as easy to understand, and in fact easier to avoid ballot spoilage.
3-2-1 and STAR are both a bit more complicated, but not much; either one can still be distilled down to 9 words.
PLACE is significantly more complicated for vote-counting, but to cast a ballot, it’s still just about as simple as FPTP. In fact, if you take into account the fact that you are more free to ignore strategic concerns, it’s arguably simpler.