Ranked Choice Voting is a sensible system to restore majority rule by giving Maine voters the power to rank their choice of candidates in future state and federal elections.

The “status quo” is not serving us well. In our current system, candidates are often elected by less than half the voters. In nine of the last 11 races for Maine’s governor, candidates were elected by less than half of voters; in five of those, it was less than 40 percent.

Ranked Choice Voting allows the candidate with the most votes to win, so voters get what they want. If your favorite candidate can’t win, your vote is instantly counted for your second choice, so you never feel like your vote is wasted. With Ranked Choice Voting, you never have to vote for the lesser of two evils when there is another candidate you really like.

Regarding costs, Maine state Treasurer Terry Hayes states, “Question 5 proposes the most cost-effective and efficient process to conduct runoffs, when necessary, to restore majority rule in Maine elections.”

Question 5 is a nonpartisan issue. 73,000 Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Greens and Libertarians across Maine signed petitions to place this initiative on the November ballot. Please talk to friends and family about what Ranked Choice Voting is, and why it matters. Learn more at YesOn5.me.

Jacki West
Kennebunk