There is a ballot measure that Mainers will be voting on in November that could drastically improve Maine’s political climate. Ranked choice voting can have a profound impact on how we are governed, and is truly the best way to assure a representative government.

Ranked choice voting gives voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference. In a three candidate race, the ranking system could be used to say, “I like candidate A best, candidate B second best and candidate C least.” Alternatively, one still has the freedom to rank just a single preference, as in the current system.

If Maine were voting on the best ice cream flavor, I could feel good about ranking my favorite flavor of pistachio first, knowing that I could still support my second choice of chocolate, which might be in a much better position to be chosen.

That ranking of candidates helps to promote third party involvement by allowing voters to be confident that their vote for a long-shot candidate isn’t wasted. Third-party involvement, in turn, helps to promote collaboration within the government because it diminishes the control that one party can assert within a two-party system. The more parties that are represented, the more collaboration is required, and the better off we are as citizens.

That is the effect that ranked choice voting can have, and it can do so with something as simple as ordering a preference among candidates.

I hope others will consider supporting that measure in November.

Ben White, Auburn

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