Letter: ‘Yes’ on political reform
To the Editor;
When I ask my patients and friends whether they are satisfied with our political system or not, the overwhelming response is “No!”
Without question, our political system has become an embarrassment around the world, with candidates lambasting each other repeatedly in hopes to gain votes. Most of us would agree that politicians running for office tend to act like spoiled children instead of refined adults. It’s certainly difficult to explain to my 19-year-old son, who is about to vote for the first time, how our political system has come to this peak of hatred and resentment among our politicians, as well as their most ardent supporters/constituents.
Most of us would agree that some sort of political reform is needed. I would argue that Mainers have a unique opportunity to make such reform. That opportunity lies in ballot question No. 5 regarding Ranked Choice Voting.
The ballot question reads: “Do you want to allow voters to rank their choices of candidates in elections for U.S. Senate, Congress, Governor, State Senate, and State Representative, and to have ballots counted at the state level in multiple rounds in which last-place candidates are eliminated until a candidate wins by majority?” I urge you to vote “Yes” on Question 5, and help Maine lead the nation in election reform.
Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to vote for candidates by ranking them as their first, second, third, or even fourth choice. The end result is that the most popular candidate, by the consensus of those votes, is the eventual winner. Furthermore, voters will have more choice, and will no longer feel that they are “throwing away my vote” for a candidate who has less political clout or backing than the major party candidates. It’s a much more fair way to elect our politicians, and it will lead to better behavior by our politicians, who will by asking voters “Please consider voting for me, but if I can’t get your first vote, may I ask to at least be your second choice?”
It is expected that under a Ranked Choice Voting system, politicians will be forced to be more civil to each other during campaigns, or risk alienating the majority of voters through negative campaigning against their rival.
Please visit http://www.rcvmaine.com/ for more information explaining how ranking your vote for candidates works and how important this referendum is for needed political reform in the state of Maine, and potentially, across the nation.
This is your opportunity to make a significant change in our political system. Take advantage of it. Vote “Yes” on Question 5 on November 8.
Dr. Kevin Chasse
Dover-Foxcroft