The Voting System That Gives You Two Votes
The Voting System That Gives You Two Votes on HackerTube: recommended by 5 Hacker News commenters across 5 separate months, 2012–2026.
CGP Grey explains Mixed-Member Proportional representation, the system used in New Zealand where voters get two votes. It covers how it differs from first-past-the-post.
What HN commenters said
14 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
sfRattanJun 2026Recommends
Germany uses mixed-member proportional representation. You cast two votes in each Federal election: one vote for a registered political party at the federal level and one vote for among a list of local candidates from those parties. The ballots famously have the phrase "You have 2 voices/votes" ("Sie haben 2 Stimmen") on the top [1]. The seats in the Bundestag are parceled out in proportion to shares of the national vote among federally recognized parties, and each party has a list of candidates who may or may not get a seat from that party's resulting allotment, based in part on the popularity of those candidates in their local list elections. The math of it is a bit more complicated than that, but it works quite well to completely sidestep the gerrymandering problem. The flipside is that parties must be registered federally to participate, and this gives the government a great deal of implicit power to exclude parties it doesn't like. CGP Grey has a good YouTube video explaining it, probably better than I have here [2]. [1]: [link] [2]: ▶ this video
in “Show HN: Gerrymandle - Daily puzzle game where you redraw electoral districts” · View on HN
cgrealyOct 2019Recommends
New Zealand uses Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting. IMO, it's the most representative voting system, precisely because it encourages smaller parties, and essentially forces coalitions. It's a bit complicated, but people are very used to it now. CGP Grey has a great video on it ▶ this video
in “Ranked-choice voting is on the ballot in New York City” · View on HN
thelasthumanNov 2018Recommends
Elections are supposed to be bloodless revolutions. If you can't effect change through the electoral system, then the non violent solution is to revolutionize how we vote. Relevant videos (IMO) First Past The Post Voting - [link] Range Voting - [link] Single Transferable Vote - [link] Alternative Vote - [link] Mixed-Member Proportional Representation - ▶ this video Bonus video This video will make you angry - [link]
in “The Second Half of Watergate Was Bigger, Worse, and Forgotten by the Public” · View on HN
namlemApr 2018Recommends
New Zealand has mixed member proportional representation, which is explained well in this video: ▶ this video The US's political system is extremely antiquated, and is not at all appropriate for a post-industrial economy. We do have a few nice things though, like a very strong protection for speech. Arguably too strong right now though, as it gives corporations nearly unlimited rights to influence elections.
in “EU copyright proposal could undermine the use of Creative Commons licenses” · View on HN
LoonyBalloonyFeb 2017Recommends
Elections were (IMO) meant to be bloodless revolutions. its just the 1% has captured both primary political parties. Also, the flawed first past the post electoral system discourages competition (IMO to keep it cheaper for the 1% to own the whole process). I'll post some videos from people smarter then me: [link] [link] [link] [link] [link] ▶ this video
in “Robots Aren’t Killing the American Dream” · View on HN
kuschkuFeb 2025Cites it
(Note: I'm not an american) > Whether it’s Biden’s fault or not is irrelevant > again, whether that was Trump’s doing or not is irrelevant For democracy to work, you need voters with a good enough civics education to understand how the different parts of government interact, and a trustworthy media providing factual news so voters can understand the dilemmas their politicians are facing. If what you're saying is right, and American voters are unable or unwilling to understand how their vote and current events combine to cause certain outcomes, doesn't that mean democracy in the US cannot possibly work? What you're describing sounds closer to a popularity contest or a sports competition than politics. ________________________ Personally, I believe a major part of this issue is caused by the political system and media landscape of the US. In a two-party system as in the US, the legislative only represents half the population (as bipartisan efforts are rare), leading to resentment among the other half. In a mixed-member proportional system[1], as in Germany, New Zealand and many Scandinavian countries, you end up with many more different parties in parliament (Germany currently has 8 [2]). For any law to pass, you need multiple parties to work together, which allows more voters to be represented. Similarly, while in Germany newspapers and public broadcasters still provide high-quality news (less than 20% of the population distrust the public broadcasters and major newspapers as
in “They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 (1955)” · View on HN
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kuschkuFeb 2025Cites it
Or you could switch to a different voting system which allows more than two parties, allowing people to make more nuanced choices? There are even voting systems which are perfectly representative (as a popular vote would be) and ensure all states get a voice (the goal of the electoral college). Say, a bicameral system. One chamber allocating each state a fixed number of voices, ensuring each state has a voice, and a second chamber with mixed-member-proportional voting ( ▶ this video ), which allows perfectly proportional majorities in this chamber while giving each district a representative (in the process also fixing gerrymandering). In fact, it was actually this system, designed by the US, that the allied countries chose for Germany after World War II.
in “They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 (1955)” · View on HN
dijitJul 2021Cites it
> the EU is not democratic in the first place EU Election system is _literally_ one of the fairest systems in existence[0] ensuring that every party get some measure of proportional representation. Compared to English First Past the Post (minority rule, and 2 party systems) or Scotlands Single-transferrable vote (which is still winner take all); but D'Hondts method means that people can be safe in the knowledge they'll be represented and it's proportional to the input. It's not "perfect" but it's _literally_ the best humans have come up with. [0]: [link] [0.1]: [link] CGP Grey did some videos on these: FPTP (England): [link] STV (Scotland): [link] D'Hondt-esque (EU): ▶ this video
in “Indiscriminate messaging and chatcontrol: Last chance to protest” · View on HN
thelasthumanFeb 2019Cites it
Reform the electoral system to achieve the representation we all deserve. The electoral system we use now: [link] Alternatives: [link] [link] [link] ▶ this video We can start introducing these to everyone at the state and local level to build momentum for electoral reform at the federal level. A good old fashioned general strike until we get what we need from our "representatives".
in “A tiny Swiss company thinks it can help stop climate change” · View on HN
thelasthumanFeb 2019Cites it
How important is this privilege if I can maliciously control how you vote? Now imagine the good we can do with real electoral reform (Democrats idea of repealing citizens United is a meager start, but weak lip service to real reform) What we have now - First Past The Post Voting - [link] Range Voting - [link] Single Transferable Vote - [link] Alternative Vote - [link] Mixed-Member Proportional Representation - ▶ this video Electoral reform is just step 1, something we can all come together for. Something no one could possibly be against. How about if I control who can be voted for? Of course it matters - [link] bonus video: This video will make you angry - [link]
in “U.S. Supreme Court Puts Limits on Police Power to Seize Private Property” · View on HN
thelasthumanOct 2018Cites it
The real problem is both main stream political parties don't represent around 45% of the country. First Past The Post Voting- [link] Range Voting- [link] Single Transferable Vote - [link] Alternative Vote - [link] Mixed-Member Proportional Representation - ▶ this video
in “China May Have $5.8T in Hidden Debt with ‘Titanic’ Risks” · View on HN
TheLegaceOct 2013Cites it
I agree it's the problem in Canada as well. For the first time a third party was able to come ahead of one of the two parties, but this had disastrous effects as it provided the opposition party a majority government and overall weakened the power of the center-left and left. And right now I have to decide if my vote will mean anything if I vote for the third party. The third party's platform will be mixed proportional representation. Which I hope we see one day so maybe this won't be such an issue any more. ▶ this video
in “9/11 Suspects Can’t Mention being Tortured during Trial because Classified” · View on HN
dkhenryJan 2013Cites it
I think we could come together with both Ideas and make a system that works. I like some aspects of your plan , but I would want to see a few modifications. Your extending into voting systems as well and I don't necessarily think your doing it the best way , but i _love_ the idea your putting forth. Edit: So i realise why I like aspects of your proposal. Because it has a few of the principles of the Mixed-Member proportional [0] System mixed into it. I like MMP I really like it. I think that combined with a radical expansion of the number of representatives ( I think we should be closer to 100k then 500k, maybe as low as 50k ) would allow us to do many amazing things as a country. Also I would toss this wrinkle in. MMP is done at a state level and only state level political parties are recognized, and they are now official. They must follow rules to elect their leadership. 0. ▶ this video
in “Hollingsworth for US Senate 2014, implementing direct democracy” · View on HN
mmphosisNov 2012Cites it
Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) Representation solves some of the problems. ▶ this video The problem with MMP is when the parties choose the ranking of their list of representatives. I think it would be even better if rather than use a party generated list, instead the representatives are determined by people's votes.
in “Voting is a Sham Mathematically Speaking” · View on HN