Here Are Two Voting Reforms That Could Counter America’s Hyperpolarization

When Used Together, ‘Ranked Choice’ and ‘Top Two’ Elections Would Strengthen Major Parties and Favor Moderate Politicians

Political polarization has spread across the globe. The ensuing ideological purity might make each warring faction appear stronger, but in reality, hyperpolarization weakens parties by making them less appealing to a weary—and wary—electorate. To reverse this trend requires electoral innovation. I have studied such reforms for many years, and the time has come to change how we run elections to give voters more power and better choices.

To understand how polarization harms parties, consider its most direct effects. As a party’s size and base shrink, so does the diversity of its …