Center squeeze

Pro-extremist bias in RCV and runoffs

In social choice, a center squeeze is a kind of spoiler effect common to plurality-elimination rules like the two-round system, plurality-with-primaries, and ranked-choice voting (RCV). In a center squeeze, a majority-preferred and socially-optimal candidate is eliminated in favor of a more extreme alternative. Extreme or polarizing candidates who focus on appealing to a small base of core supporters can thus "squeeze" broadly-popular candidates trapped between them, starving them of the first preferences they need to survive early rounds.

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