The most important reason to implement ranked-choice voting in all state races is that it is majority voting. Similar to Lewiston’s runoff for multi-candidate races, ranked-choice voting can do the same, instantly and cheaper in one day for all state candidates.
A proposed amendment to the ranked-choice voting law offered by LD 1646 provides time for a constitutional amendment to be passed by the voters next year and allows the process to be applied universally. A public hearing will be held by the Veterans Affairs Committee at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in room 437 of the State House.
Ranked-choice voting was the will of the people as voted last November and the committee is dealing with it now. The bill ought to pass in the Legislature. Anything less absolutely disrespects the vote of the people.
Delaying action would provide the slippery slope toward denying residents of democratic process.
On second thought, maybe the most important attribute of ranked-choice voting is that it strongly encourages candidates to be nice — even positive with each other. Now, more than ever, there needs to be more civility in politics.
Donald Fellows, Lisbon
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