Ranked choice voting is the fix we need

To the Editor;
Most of us believe majority rule is the basis of our democracy. However, in our state, majority doesn’t rule. “Plurality” rules, which means, for races with more than two candidates, the one with the most votes wins. Thus, in the 2012 Maine U.S. Senate race, the Democrat won the primary with just 38 percent of the vote and the Republican won with 28 percent. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) would fix this and ensure that you can only be elected by winning a majority of the vote.

Last November, 255 voters in Charleston, Maine, supported RCV. Over 36,500 voters in Penobscot County and more than 388,000 Mainers statewide voted for it. It was the second largest “Yes” vote in the history of Maine referendums.

Because the new RCV law mandated a majority, rather than a plurality, to win an election, the State Supreme Court recently advised that it was unconstitutional for state elections. However, its opinion applies to only three of the 10 elections covered by the law (Governor, State House and State Senate). They did not dispute that RCV is constitutional for all primary and general elections for Congress and president.
Our state legislature could amend the Maine constitution to allow RCV for state elections. Senator Angus King has urged our lawmakers to do so. Amending our constitution is neither difficult nor unusual. It has already been amended 173 times, an average of almost once per year.

Our state lawmakers are considering this, but it will take two-thirds of the Legislature and getting those votes will be a challenge. If you are tired of having to vote for the lesser evil, RCV is the fix. Please consider contacting your state senator and representative this week. The RCV law’s fate will likely be decided by them in the very near future.

Bob Lodato
Charleston