To Build a Better Ballot
Core route · systems
Voting systems you can drag, split, and recount.
This explainer makes the spoiler effect and alternative voting rules tangible. Move candidates and voters around, then watch how different counting methods change the outcome. It turns electoral mechanics into a hands-on sandbox.
At a glance
Voting systems are often discussed abstractly. This makes it obvious how small changes in voter distribution or candidate entry flip outcomes under different rules.
Start with a two-candidate scenario and watch the obvious winner. Add a third candidate near one pole to trigger the spoiler effect, then switch counting rules to see how the outcome changes.
About 10 to 15 minutes. Beginner friendly. Best when you want a civic-systems explainer that stays playful while teaching real rule differences.
Embed
Reading path
- Open the live interactive: https://kohnnn.github.io/interactive-explanation/ballot/
- Continue through The-Evolution-of-Trust or Parable-of-the-Polygons if you want more incentives-and-systems intuition afterwards
- Continue via Interactive or Visual Notes