Last edited Fri Feb 23, 2018, 10:58 AM - Edit history (2)
* Primary elections, where there will always be the most candidates on the ballot, already traditionally have lower turnout than general elections. So wait times are already somewhat shorter for the primaries. So this should not be too much of an issue even with some increase in primary election turnout.
* This is a tried and true voting method. It was used in 2011 and 2015 for mayor in Portland, our largest city. In 2011 there were 15 candidates for mayor on the ballot. It all went smoothly. It has been used for many decades in numerous cities and entire countries in the US and around the world very easily, smoothly, and popularly.
* More and more people are doing early voting. This reduces the lines on election day. Anyone can vote early in person or early absentee by mail, as I do, in the comfort their own homes. It is SO easy to sign up for an absentee mail-in ballot. It takes about one minute online.
* Most people will have researched the candidates and will know just how they are going to vote. Voters are smart and savvy. In fact, a great benefit of this is that people will be even more inclined to do their research and decide just how they are going to vote. That makes for more informed voters and is a very good thing.
* Research shows that Ranked Choice Voting serves to increase voter participation which is also a very good thing. It makes people more interested and engaged in their elections. This is very good for democracy.
* A little more time in exchange for more democracy, better and fairer elections that result in winners who much better reflect the actual will of the voters, more power, voice, and choice in the hands of the voters, and better and less rancorous campaigns is one heck of a good deal.
*** There have been various questions raised about RCV but it is absolutely nothing to fear or worry about. It is simply Instant Runoff Voting and has been used for many decades in many places. Cambridge, MA has used it since 1941. Ireland uses it nationwide for their elections, as do other nations. It works just great. ANY change takes some getting used to. But people will get used to it and will find they like it. Remember the school laptop computer program? We were the first in the nation to do it on a statewide basis. People said it would be doom and gloom. People said it would be "chaotic" and "cumbersome" and "unwieldy" and that all these "nightmare" scenarios like laptops being sold, destroyed, and pawned would be happening. Guess what, all that doom and gloom did not happen and the program has been successful and even expanded. And so it will be with this MUCH needed election reform.
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