Protect ranked-choice voting

To the Editor;
Why are Maine Republicans so adamantly opposed to ranked-choice voting? There are four Republican gubernatorial candidates on the June primary ballot. Hypothetically, if the first choice votes resulted in a 26 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent and 24 percent apportionment, and ranked-choice voting was not in place, the candidate with 26 percent of the vote would be declared the winner for receiving the most votes (a plurality). That would mean that 74 percent of voters did not favor this candidate.

Why would a party put forward a candidate who does not have the support of the majority of its members? Ranked-choice voting allows voters to express their support for other candidates, even if they are not their first choice, so the winner can emerge knowing that he or she has the support of a majority.

If the Maine GOP does not believe in ranked-choice voting, then party members are free to limit their choice to just one selection on their ballots. But why would they not take advantage of the ranked-choice voting system, which acts like an instant-runoff election, to provide a candidate who can garner the most voters’ support? The Republicans may prefer plurality voting, but the majority of the electorate has put ranked-choice voting in place.

Protect ranked-choice voting. Vote yes on Question 1 on June 12.

Eric Boothroyd
Dover-Foxcroft