Marylanders deserve ranked-choice voting | GUEST COMMENTARY

Marylanders will be faced with untenable choices when they cast their votes during the primary election to select their representatives and leaders.  We have lots of good candidates, but we have an election system incapable of discerning whom most voters support.

Crowded fields of candidates are contesting each other for the nominations to the open seats in the U.S. House. In Maryland’s 3rd District, Democrats have 22 candidates to choose from, and Republicans have nine choices. Other races have anywhere from 3 to 16 candidates, including Baltimore City’s race for mayor, which features 13 Democratic candidates (at least one of whom has  dropped out, though his name still appears on the ballot) and three Republicans.

How do we make sure our vote actually counts — that it truly makes a difference? In our system of “plurality” voting, we express our one vote as a preference for one candidate. So, to make the most of it, we engage in some strategic voting, asking ourselves:

• If I vote for my true favorite, will it be a “wasted” vote?
• Will that wasted vote be a “spoiler” and actually help the candidate I like the least?
• I’d be happy with either of two candidates, but by “splitting” the vote, would neither win?

By splitting the vote between two or more similar candidates, this system effectively suppresses the expression of support for candidates of similar policy positions or who represent the same underrepresented group. The outcome fails to generate a result that reflects true voter preferences. This method fosters toxic elections, as candidates vie to evoke the most emotion and to garner the most media (and social media) attention.  Negative campaigning has become the norm as candidates know they don’t need to appeal to a broad electorate, just a small but loyal minority.

This system undermines our democracy as voters realize that their vote is wasted. In Maryland’s primaries, when the winner garnering the most votes does so with 25% of the vote, that means 75% wanted someone else.

This system fails to provide the winning candidate with a mandate. Yes, such candidates often win with a super-majority in the general election.  But, let’s be honest: In most races in Maryland (except the 6th Congressional District), the election is decided in the primary. That’s the determinative election, despite the fact that voter turnout in primaries is generally half that of general elections. Is it a good idea to let low-turnout primaries determine who we send to Congress? Does it produce elected officials who truly represent their districts and the people of Maryland?

There is a better way: ranked-choice voting.

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. With some simple changes to the ballot, Maryland voters could have this option.  As we do every day, we select what we want, and if that one is not available, we’re fairly content with our second choice, and so on. Why can’t we elect our leaders this way?

Ranked-choice voting ensures that winning candidates are supported by over 50% of the voters. This system, also referred to as instant run-off, is used in roughly 50 jurisdictions across the U.S. Six states use it for military and overseas voters. There’s no good reason Marylanders should not have the benefit of this sort of system.

Where it’s been used, we’ve seen great results: no wasted votes, no spoiler effect and no vote splitting. Voter turnout increases as voters realize their vote is more meaningful, and civility in elections improves as candidates try to appeal to all voters instead of just a vocal minority. Representation is broadened as those elected are accountable to more voters. And democracy functions better as elected officials no longer have to rely on the support of a minority of voters, but instead are free to forge solutions that appeal more broadly.  In other words, it reduces gridlock.

Let’s change this.  Marylanders deserve a better system where all votes count.

Julia Nickles Bryan (julia@allvotescountmaryland.org) is a former finance professional now committed to election reform. She is part of a group of Marylanders who recently created an organization known as All Votes Count Maryland to educate Marylanders about better ways to elect our leaders (allvotescountmaryland.org).