Support for ranked choice
For at least the past two gubernatorial election cycles, many Mainers have awoken the day after the election with feelings of frustration, disappointment and helplessness.
We have a problem with our current voting system. Why? As of now, we use a system of plurality voting. This system works well when there are only two candidates for any given office because one of them will always win a majority of the votes. However, as is often the case, we can have multiple candidates vying for the same office. This has resulted in nine of the last 11 gubernatorial races where no single candidate had a majority. In fact, some races have been won with less than 40 percent support.
How can we fix this? One solution is a process called “ranked choice voting.” This process allows voters to rank their choice for office based on individual preferences. Each voter choses their first, second and third choice candidate. If no candidate receives a clear majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is considered to have lost and is eliminated. These votes are assigned to the candidate in second place and the ballots are counted again. In a three-person race we will now have a candidate with a majority.
Ranked choice voting allows voters to support their preferred candidate without worrying that they might be “throwing away” their vote.
Because candidates running in ranked choice elections must ask for second, and sometimes, third choice ranking they will not want to be negative toward a voter’s preferred candidate. This will lead to less negative campaigning.
Because ranked choice voting levels the playing field for all candidates, the candidates are more likely to take their cases directly to the voters with a focus on policy concerns.
This is not a new idea. It was invented in New England in 1871 and has been gaining support in the Maine Legislature since 2001. This idea is supported by elected leaders from all three recognized parties.
I support this idea. Many of my colleagues support this idea. Can we count on you?
Ann Peoples,
Former state representative
Dillon Bates, House District 35 representative
Westbrook
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