Where politics is concerned, many are unhappy. A recent poll found roughly 80% of Americans think the country is in a crisis because we can’t agree with one another. 

So how do we get out of it? The usual answer is the ballot box. Unfortunately, our elections systems don’t always incentivize change. That’s because America has a first-past-the-post electoral system, which means one winner for each seat.

If a candidate comes in second, they get nothing — no share of the power. A candidate only needs more votes than their opponent. They never need the people who disagree with them. Other countries hand out seats based on each party’s share of the vote. That forces parties to work together to govern. 

As some see it, rewriting our state constitution is one way to break the gridlock. It’s on the ballot next month. If passed, Proposal 1 would trigger a constitutional convention next year.

Interestingly, groups across the political spectrum oppose it. Recent polling suggests most Michigan voters do, too.

Quinn Yeargain is the innagural 1855 Professor of the Law of Democracy at Michigan State University. He joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to discuss why he says he won’t vote in favor of the proposal, and how we can create a politics that works for people.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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