To the editor:
We need to change the way we elect our leaders in the state of Maine as our current “winner-take-all” voting system does not allow for a representative democracy. Over the last 40 years, nine of our last 11 governors were elected with less than 50 percent of the vote. In other words, in nine of those elections, a majority of voters did not cast their ballots for the winning candidate. So, in reality, the people who were and are elected to office do not represent the majority of voters in our state.
We need to give voters more choice and we need candidates that are ready to work across party lines, build consensus, and advocate for all Maine people. This can be done through Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).
Ranked Choice Voting allows you to indicate which candidates are your first choice, second, third choice, etc. The way the votes are counted, ensures that the winning candidate represents the majority of voters.
RCV gives voters more choice in the process and more voice in the final outcome. It’s like going to Dunkin Donuts and ordering a bagel. You might ask for cinnamon raisin (first choice), but you don’t have to walk away empty-handed if they are all out, you can go for the sesame seed (second choice).
While Ranked Choice Voting won’t fix all of the broken elements of our government, it does put power back in voters’ hands and it holds candidates for federal and state offices accountable to a majority vote.
RCV has been used successfully by municipal voters in Portland, by overseas military voters in states like Louisiana, and by entire countries like Ireland. I think Maine needs to adopt Ranked Choice Voting.
Kimberly Sebold
Presque Isle
