The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Kyle Bailey is a former state representative from Gorham who led the campaigns that won and protected Maine’s ranked-choice voting law.
Hundreds of Mainers from every corner of the state — Republicans, Democrats and independents — traveled to Augusta in 2016 to testify at the public hearing in support of ranked-choice voting. Only one person showed up to testify against ranked-choice voting and majority rule.
Some politicians and political consultants dislike ranked-choice voting — and other reforms that increase voter turnout, give more voice and more choice to voters, and get big money out of politics.
On Election Day this year, Question 1 to place a limit on contributions to super PACs was approved by 73 percent of Maine voters. In fact, it got more votes than any citizen initiative in Maine’s history. Many of the same politicians and consultants who dislike ranked-choice voting opposed Question 1, likely because they are dependent on super PACs to fund their campaigns and pay their consulting fees.
There have always been political forces lurking in the shadows and working at the fringes of American politics to game the system, divide us as Americans and win elections with dark money and less than 50 percent of the vote. They don’t like ranked-choice voting because it’s nearly impossible for candidates outside of the mainstream to succeed in ranked-choice voting elections that ensure majority winners and give voters the power to express their preferences about more than one candidate. Reasonable people do not want extreme politicians to run the government.
Fear is a weapon used by operatives who desire an electorate that is apathetic, resigned and docile. Hope vanquishes fear, encourages citizen engagement and rewards moderation and progress.
Ranked-choice voting lets people vote their hopes, not their fears. With ranked-choice voting, you don’t have to vote for the lesser of two evils when there is another candidate you really like. You can vote for the candidate you like best without worrying that you will help to elect the candidate you like least. No candidate is a “spoiler.” Your vote is never wasted.
A common critique of ranked-choice voting from opponents is that it delays election results. For example, we might have to wait 10 days to know who won a very close congressional race. We don’t hold elections for the instant gratification of politicians and political consultants, but for the people to have their votes counted — every vote — and their voices fully heard — every voice. The vast majority of us are fine waiting until all of the ballots are counted and a candidate has emerged with an unbeatable majority because we value representative democracy.
It’s time for those politicians and political operatives who have opposed ranked-choice voting to stop complaining about it and compete to earn majority support for their candidates and platforms.
Ranked-choice voting is working for Maine. Mainers have voted for it twice. It’s been used in many Maine elections for the past eight years without incident. Millions of Americans now rank their vote thanks to the courage and wisdom of the Maine people to lead the way.
This November, Maine became the first state in the nation to use ranked-choice voting for president. It delivered the same Electoral College result in 2024 as the old voting system did in 2020 — three votes for the Democratic nominee and one vote for President-elect Donald Trump.
Ranked-choice voting has been used by voters to elect Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King — and candidates from both parties in primary elections. Ranked-choice voting doesn’t favor one party over another, it simply gives more choice and more voice to voters.
Voters consistently report that ranked-choice voting is simple, fair and easy to use. It has eliminated vote-splitting, the spoiler effect and the need for strategic voting in Maine’s primaries and federal elections. Evidence shows that ranked-choice voting has resulted in increased voter participation and more diverse candidate choices and winners. All of those outcomes are healthy for our republic.
Mainers have shown they don’t want to go back to the old way of doing things. We all likely remember how awful some of those elections were before ranked-choice voting. Instead, we want to move forward.
Our children and grandchildren are counting on us to protect American democracy. We must not become apathetic, resigned or docile. Let’s continue working to strengthen our republic, protect and expand ranked-choice voting, and ensure that future generations inherit a system that works — where every vote is counted, every voice is heard, our democracy isn’t for sale and everyone has the freedom to vote their hopes, not their fears.