Ranked-choice voting is not for me, and it shouldn’t be the election methodology anywhere in the state of Maine.

The Maine state constitution requires a plurality of votes for a win because it forces the two top contenders to face off in a battle of ideas in a public forum for the benefit of a better informed public.

Perhaps ranked-choice voting would have a place in Maine if all contenders shared equal time in the media and the public had an opportunity to see all the positions discussed, dissected and debated. Unfortunately, as things stand, money talks, media controls the message and the messenger.

Debate forums are few and far between and, in many cases, the candidates’ views are not well understood, if even heard, but at least people get to see a showdown between the two top contenders before they make their final choice.

I am afraid that ranked-choice voting is guaranteed to be gamed by minor players who don’t have a chance, but who saturate the field while lying in bed with major contenders. Their sole purpose will be to split the positions and peel off a few votes here and there and water down the vote in favor of their collaborative candidate.

Think about how much more of the alienated Maine state population is just going to stay home, mumbling “democracy is dead.”

Alan Whitman, Auburn

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