Letters to the Editor: Ranked choice voting for the middle

Last month Prof. Steve Corbin’s letter to the Times Pilot complained about both presidential candidates, with more complaints about Trump. He wrote that 43% of voters are independent and that 63% of voters want a third party choice. But only candidates from the two major parties have a plausible chance to win. Voting for a minor party candidate risks “wasting” your vote, or worse, throwing the election to the major party candidate you like least.

How did we get to this unpopular situation, and what can we do about it?  First, candidates of political parties are chosen by the most committed of their respective parties, and that often means the most extreme. Independents can’t vote in primary elections unless they register with a major party, and election turnouts are usually low. Second, candidates are pressured to toe the party line, and especially to not challenge an incumbent running for reelection.  So even within a party there is often little choice, and moderates don’t usually get the nomination.

A good way to expand choice and encourage independents to have — and use — a voice is Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Here’s how it works. Voters don’t vote for one candidate; they vote for all of them (or as many as they choose) and rank each 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.  Each ballot is awarded to the candidate listed as 1st choice. If one candidate has >50% of the vote, that candidate wins. But if no candidate has >50% of the first choice votes the candidate with the most first choice votes may not win. The candidate with the fewest first choice votes is eliminated and those ballots are awarded to the candidate listed as second choice.  Continue until one candidate has >50% of the vote.  RCV can be used in both primary elections and general elections.

RCV has several good effects. 1) Voters can vote for their real first choice, not just the major party candidate they dislike least. They then list their preferred major party candidate second or third and not rank any unacceptable candidates. 2) Votes for minor party candidates are neither wasted nor able to throw the election to the least favorite major party candidate. 3) Candidates have an incentive to speak well of opponents and not just denigrate them. Major party candidates have an incentive to try to reach supporters of minor party candidates. A second choice vote from a supporter of a minor party is nearly as good as a first choice vote. Similarly, minor party candidates can urge their supporters to list them first and a particular major party candidate second. 4) A candidate with strong support of a minority but who is unacceptable to a majority will not win a three-way race where the other two candidates split the vote. 5) Large numbers of votes for minor party candidates would be wakeup call to the major parties that they need to be more responsive to the will of the voters.

RCV is used in many cities and towns around the country and is used for state-wide elections in Maine and Alaska. Voting machines in Iowa can be programmed to use RCV and no additional equipment is needed to implement it. A bill was introduced in the legislature in 2024 to allow cities and towns to use RCV if they choose. It got a lot of voter support but didn’t pass committee. Next year the bill will be introduced again. If the 2024 election doesn’t give you enough choice, urge your state legislators to pass this bill next year. For more information and ways to support RCV go to www.betterballotiowa.org.

Jim Eliason

Storm Lake

Immigration is key

I really wish that everyone in the country could read Art Cullen’s Editor’s Notebook from the April 10 edition.  Unless we are American Indian, we are all descended from immigrants and those that are yelling the loudest about keeping immigrants out should do some serious soul-searching.  Keep up the good work, Art. Maybe someday this country will return to common sense.

In the same edition I was knocked out by the beautiful woodwork of Marlin Lode. I have a very soft spot in my heart for the Cobblestone and loved seeing his creations using old wood from there. I understand he does not sell his creations, but if he would ever like to “give” one away for a donation to his favorite charity, please give him my name!

Barbara (Scott) Kondrach

Mansfield, Texas