Donald Trump doesn't want democracy to work like this:
Even if Donald Trump disagrees, this shouldn't be a controversial statement and it's as true in Massachusetts as it is in every state: our democracy, our elections should be fairer.
How do we get there? Ranked Choice Voting, both here in Massachusetts and across America.
Ranked Choice Voting is all about giving people the ability to list their preferred candidates in elections by rank. Here's how it works:
On election night, votes are tallied in rounds. If a candidate starts off with more than half the votes, then they win. If not, the candidate with the least number of first-place votes overall is eliminated – and these votes are then redistributed according to the voters' next preference until a winner emerges.
The result? A more fair election that allows voters to better express themselves at the polls. But that's not all. With Ranked Choice Voting, candidates have to appeal to a majority of the electorate, not just a narrow minority, which encourages more coalition-building. The system also saves money on runoff after runoff election. And it helps foster a positive campaign environment because candidates will not be rewarded for scorched-Earth advertising or dirty tricks.
The way forward is clear. Even if Trump doesn't like it, it's time to make democracy easier and more inclusive. And that's just what this ballot measure will do.
