Reforming Georgia's runoffs - Florida's Covid vaccine investigation - Meta sued in Kenya

Source: The Conversation

1. Summary
   Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has called on the state legislature to end the state's practice of holding a runoff election when no candidate acquires over 50% of the vote. Four states have runoffs for general elections, and nine states hold runoffs for primaries. Georgia and Louisiana are the only two states to hold runoffs for both.
   
   Raffensperger cited runoff elections interfering with the holidays, strain on local officials, and cost. Runoff elections have also been criticized for reducing voter turnout, although this year's runoff drew record turnout. Georgia introduced runoffs in the 1960s to reduce Black votes.
   
   Raffensperger did not offer specific reforms, or call for an end to runoffs for primaries. Some have proposed lowering the victory threshold to 45%, or switching to ranked-choice voting (in which voters select a second person if their preferred candidate loses). Georgia Democrats reduced the runoff threshold to 45% in the 1990s when they led the legislature. The GOP raised it back to 50% in 2004 when they returned to power.

   Highly-rated - last 48 hrs
   Ga. secretary of state wants to end general election runoffs.
   Associated Press (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 83% • 3 min read
   

1. Selected local viewpoint
   Georgia's Secretary of State calls to end general-election runoffs.
   Savannah Morning News (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 67% • 3 min read

1. Selected long-read
   A brief history of Georgia’s runoff voting. (2020)
   The Conversation (Center) • Factual Grade 88% • 6 min read

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