On an Approval Ballot, the Voter can Select any Number of Candidates. Approval Voting is a Single-Winner Electoral System. The Winner is the Most-Approved Candidate. Robert J. Weber coined the Term in 1971.
Approval Voting Ballots show a List of the Candidates Running for that Seat for each Office being Contested. Next to each Name is a Checkbox or another similar way to Mark "Yes" or "No" for each Candidate.
Approval Voting has been Used in Privately administered Nomination Contests by the Independent Party of Oregon in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016. Oregon is a Fusion Voting State, and the Party has Cross-Nominated Legislators and Statewide Officeholders using this method. Its 2016 Presidential Preference Primary did Not identify a Potential Nominee Due to No Candidate Earning more than 32% Support.
It is also used in Internal Elections by the:
- American Solidarity Party
- The Green Party of Ohio
- The German Pirate Party
- The Green Party of Texas
- The Libertarian Party Colorado
- The Libertarian Party of Texas
- The U.S. Modern Whig Party
In 2018, Fargo, North Dakota Passed a Ballot Initiative adopting Approval Voting for Local Elections, becoming the First U.S. City and Jurisdiction to Adopt Approval Voting.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
