Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is emerging as the shiny new thing on the left to confuse voters, steal elections, and undermine public trust in democracy. So far only two states, Alaska and Maine, have fully adopted RCV in all state and federal elections. But fifteen states, including five states bordering Arizona—California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, have adopted some form of RCV in local elections. Two more states, Oregon and Nevada, will have voter initiatives on the 2024 ballot to approve or expand RCV in state and federal elections.
Five states have explicitly prohibited RCV in all state and federal elections. Legislation to prohibit RCV in Arizona has passed the state legislature in 2023, only to be vetoed by Democrat Governor, Katie Hobbs.
According to the America First Policy Institute, an organization opposing Ranked Choice Voting, there is likely to be a well-funded effort to get a voter initiative adopting RCV in Arizona on the ballot in 2024. On Friday, August 4th, they are sponsoring a Grassroots Seminar, “No On Ranked Choice Voting” at a venue in north Scottsdale, to educate voters and political activists on the pitfalls of RCV. Congressman Andy Biggs tops the list of featured speakers.
Representatives from other conservative leaning groups including Rep. Austin Smith from Turning Point Action, former State Senator Steve Smith, who is the Arizona Chair of the America First Policy Institute, and other subject matter experts on Ranked Choice Voting will be speaking at the seminar. The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited and an RSVP is requested. The event is scheduled from 9:00AM to 2:00PM at The Venue, 8600 E. Anderson Drive, in north Scottsdale. Confirmed reservations will include a complimentary lunch. [Editor’s Note: See the flyer posted above for details.]
According to a Wall Street Journal article from July 26, 2023, Arlington County, Virginia, which approved Rank Choice Voting in 2022, has reversed course after their first election experience. Voters in the Democrat stronghold across the Potomac from Washington, DC were so confused by the unexpected results after votes were reassigned and results reshuffled, the local Board of Supervisors decided to abandon their experiment with Ranked Choice Voting.
Alaska narrowly approved Rank Choice Voting thru a 2020 ballot initiative which passed with just 50.5% voter approval. But the results of Alaska’s 2022 Congressional election which sent a liberal Democrat and Alaska’s first Native American to Congress with less than 50% of the initial vote is causing second thoughts. According to a recent poll published in the Alaska Watchman, voters now oppose Rank Choice voting by 53% to 47%. An appeal referendum is on the ballot for 2024.
So what’s the problem? Proponents of RCV claim that it’s a more efficient way to run elections. By forcing voters to rank candidates and dropping the candidate in last place, they eliminate runoff elections. It’s claimed that ranking candidates in order of preference, increases the diversity of the candidate pool and opportunity for minority candidates. It promises to eliminate fringe candidates at the extremes and makes it more likely that a “consensus” candidate with broad support will win. When votes for lower ranked candidates are reassigned, the candidate who was the second choice of a large enough percentage of voters can jump to first place. No need for a runoff between the top two candidates. No need to ask voters to decide the actual winner for themselves.
But there are signs voters may be getting wise to what has all the earmarks of a scam. In an April 2023 monograph by Penny Thomas, “Where’s The Evidence Supporting Rank Choice Voting Claims?”, there is reason to be skeptical. According to Ms. Thomas’s research, Ranked Choice Voting has not decreased polarization or fostered voter consensus. There is some evidence that RCV has increased minority participation in elections, but little evidence that minorities are actually winning elections. Voter turnout has not increased. Nor is there a clear pattern of decreased negativity in campaigns.
The only consistent result seems to be voter confusion and an increased level of distrust in election results. Under RCV, the need to recount and reassign votes has led to delays in knowing the results of elections. Instead of increasing minority participation and confidence in the results, many black voters have become disenchanted. According to a December 20, 2022 report by CBS News in San Francisco, the NAACP is challenging the results of the Oakland Mayor’s race because thousands of votes were thrown out when voters failed to rank the candidates. The lawsuit argues that RCV is just too complicated and unfamiliar to work as intended in Oakland, California.
According to Mike Vallante of the America First Policy Institute, deep pocketed Progressive PACs have targeted Arizona for Rank Choice Voting. Anyone wishing to learn more is invited to register for this free seminar to be held Friday, August 4, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Questions and online RSVP’s can be addressed to JKittleson@americafirstpolicy.com
1 thought on “Ranked Choice Voting: How Losers Can Be Winners – David Stringer, Publisher”
Providing examples of what RCV has done in Alaska and New York City are enough to say “no” to RCV in Arizona. Sara Palin, former governor of Alaska was dropped off the ballot for a congressional seat. Eric Adams, a man of questionable character as a NYPD officer became mayor of New York City
And look who is pushing RCV; Progressive Democrats aka Marxists.
David Stringer could have made it much clearer than to suggest we drive to Scottsdale to learn of this inferior and more difficult method of selecting the best person for elective office.
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