There has been a lot of discussion about the November 2016 election, but I think one of the most important issues that voters will face at the polls this year is the statewide referendum question on ranked-choice voting. If passed, this system would be applied to federal and state primary and general elections in Maine, beginning in the 2018 election cycle.
When we rank the people running for office, we vote with our hearts, without fear that we are throwing our vote away. This gives voters a way to come to compromise on the people who will lead us all, rather than forcing voters to play the game of voting “against” a particular candidate.
In a place like Maine, with strong Independent candidates, this makes sense for us. It gives people the freedom to speak up for the people they believe in, and can bring new ideas and new minds into the conversation. Without ranked choice, voters play the game trying to choose the most likely winner.
I, for one, want to be able to vote my heart, not my fears. Ranked-choice voting makes sense for me, and for Maine.
LaMarr Clannon
Litchfield
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.