Sometimes majority doesn’t rule

To the Editor;

Our current voting system could be improved. Majority rule is a fundamental principle of American representative democracy. However, in the current system, majority doesn’t rule.

In 9 of the last 11 races for governor in Maine, candidates were elected by less than half of the voters, and in the 2012 Maine US Senate race, the Democrat won her primary with 38 percent of the vote, while the Republican won his primary with just 28 percent. Another problem with the current system is that sometimes voting for the candidate we like the most may help elect the candidate we like the least, so we vote for the ‘lesser evil’. A third gripe is the negative campaigning that occurs.

Ranked choice voting, also known as RCV or “instant runoff voting” would solve these problems. It is not new, having been invented right here in New England in 1871 and first used in an 1893 election. It has been used for over 120 years by hundreds of governments and private associations around the world. Cities (Portland, Maine uses RCV) and counties across the United States, as well as governments around the world (like Australia and Ireland) use RCV, and it is recommended by Roberts’ Rules of Order.

Here’s how it works. You vote for as many candidates as you like, but you rank them as first choice, second choice, etc. On election night all the votes are counted for first choice rankings. If one candidate receives a majority of votes in the first round, they win, just like now. If no candidate receives a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest first choice rankings is eliminated. If your favorite candidate is eliminated, your vote is instantly counted for your second choice. This repeats until one candidate reaches a majority and wins.

The benefits of RCV include reduced negative campaigning, a return to majority rule, and no more need to worry about voting for who you like best (and helping elect the one you like the least). In the 2011 Portland mayoral election using RCV, turnout was 40 percent higher than predicted, 41 percent of voters thought there was less negative campaigning, and 45 percent felt more inclined to vote for their favorite candidate.

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Maine has led the effort to enact RCV in Maine. Hundreds of business, labor, civic, and faith leaders, including Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens, and Libertarians from across Maine support it. Prominent supporters include 2008 presidential candidates, Democrat Obama and Republican McCain.

RCV does not advantage one political party over another. Legal experts say it is consistent with both the U.S. and Maine Constitutions, and federal courts have upheld it against constitutional challenges. The costs of an IRV election are no different from those of any other system using the same technology.

This November you will have the opportunity to vote for a citizen referendum question that will provide “ranked-choice voting for the offices of United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and State Representative for elections held on or after January 1, 2018.”

Much of the above was taken from Ranked Choice Voting of Maine’s website.

Bob Lodato
Charleston