Mountain States Policy Center misleads public about ranked-choice voting in Idaho | Opinion
An opinion recently appeared in the Statesman from the Mountain States Policy Center attacking the proposal for ranked-choice voting that is presently circulating. There were several errors of analysis and outright errors of fact regarding ranked-choice voting that should be addressed before they gain wide circulation.
Alaska and Maine are not the only states to adopt ranked-choice voting. Hawaii has also adopted, but not yet implemented this system for most elections. It is also in use in some elections in another eleven states.
Ranked-choice voting does not violate one person one vote. Each count amounts to a second election. Every vote is counted every time, and no vote is counted more than once per electoral round.
No vote counts more than any other. In fact, more voters get their votes counted. The later rounds of voting function exactly as a runoff does, each round eliminating one candidate until one of them receives a majority. Candidates in a runoff get another chance. Just like in ranked-choice voting.
The statement regarding voter exhaustion has it upside down. Voter turnout in runoff elections is notoriously low. Under ranked-choice voting, every voter who shows up for the general election has a vote in the runoff. The number of ballots that don’t list multiple candidates has been far lower than no-shows in runoff elections.
Voter confusion? I’m certain Idaho voters can count to four. And regardless of the voting system the responsibility of voters to understand the candidates doesn’t change no matter how many candidates are in a race. Unless, of course, one wishes to have political “gatekeepers” determine which candidates are worthy of attention. So we voters don’t have to bother our pretty little heads.
Contrary to the statement by the policy center, no voter is required to vote for more than one candidate, to “rank every race” as the center put it. Ever.
There is no process delay. In fact, ranked-choice voting delivers quicker results. If a candidate gets 50%+1 the winner is announced on election night just as the present system does. If a runoff is needed, the results are usually announced within days, not a month later. In fact, in Idaho there currently is no runoff. A majority is not necessary. In 2006 the Republican primary for the first congressional district had 6 candidates. The winner got 26%, and advanced to the general election.
It’s a good thing for the writer that this piece was not turned in to a political science class for grade. The result would have been embarrassing.
George Moses is a former Air Force officer, Vietnam veteran, congressional aide and Idaho redistricting commissioner. He has been in and around elective politics for over five decades and has worked in political campaigns at levels from school board to president. He has no current party affiliation.
