How question 2 could change how we vote in massachusetts

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Katie Delaney

Nov. 1, 2020        

 

            If approved, Question 2 on the Massachusetts ballot in the Nov. 3 election could create a big change in the way voters in the state vote for government officials, by instituting ranked-choice voting. 
            Ranked-choice voting is a method of voting in which voters rank as many candidates as they want in order of preference. A “yes” vote supports enacting ranked-choice voting for primary and general elections beginning in 2022, while a “no” vote opposes ranked-choice voting and supports upholding the current voting system. 
            Under ranked-choice voting, if a candidate receives greater than 50% of all first-preference votes, then the candidate is the winner. If no candidate receives a simple majority, then the candidate receiving the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and the second-preference choices on the ballots of those whose first choice was eliminated are counted as their first preference in the next round. This process is continued until a candidate wins over 50% of the votes. 
            In Massachusetts, ranked-choice voting, if enacted, would be used in elections for state executive officials (including the governor and lieutenant governor), state legislators, congressional seats, and certain other offices. Ranked-choice voting would not be used in elections for president, county commissioner, or regional district school committee member.
            Maine is the only state that has adopted ranked-choice voting at the state level for statewide and federal elections, as Massachusetts is voting to potentially do. Another eight states have implemented ranked-choice voting at some level, with many cities using it for local elections. The city of Cambridge has used this method since 1941 to elect its city council and school board. 
            Those who support the initiative argue that ranked-choice voting can help eliminate the “spoiler effect,” which is when a vote is split between candidates with similar ideologies. They also believe that ranked-choice voting allows for the candidate with the broadest support to be elected, as people can rank the candidates they prefer, rather than only choosing one. Proponents also believe that it would expand voter choice, allowing voters to vote for who they most strongly support, rather than voting for who they think will win, or voting against the candidates they oppose. Proponents say voters could do this more safely, with less risk of splitting votes.

            According to the Boston Herald, Evan Falchuk, “Yes on 2” board chairman, said that “in a ranked-choice election, you can vote third party, and the vote isn’t wasted.” Ranked-choice voting also could promote more diverse candidates, encouraging more independents and third-party candidates to run for office. Proponents also argue that ranked-choice could help reduce negative campaigning, and animosity among voters.
            Those who oppose the initiative believe that ranked-choice voting is too confusing and could threaten voter participation. Jennifer Braceras, director of Independent Women’s Law Center, opposed the measure in her Boston Globe article “Ranked-choice voting threatens to distort election outcomes.” “Ranked-choice voting is, in fact, a complex and confusing process that threatens to reduce voter participation and distort election outcomes,” she said. 
            Opponents also argue that this measure could slow down elections, causing voters to take longer to fill out their ballots, and delaying the results of elections. Some are also concerned that some candidates support policies that are so similar that voters would have a hard time ranking them, especially when several candidates are involved. 
            Many high-profile government officials have backed ranked-choice voting, including U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren, former Govs. Deval Patrick and Bill Weld, several U.S. representatives, including Ayanna Pressley and Joseph Kennedy III. The initiative has also been backed by the Democratic Party of Massachusetts, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts, and The Boston Globe. In a statement, Warren and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin said that "by requiring the winner to reach more than 50 percent of the vote, ranked choice voting ensures the winning candidate is the one with the broadest appeal to the majority of voters.”
            Fewer officials and organizations have opposed the initiative, but opponents include Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and the Republican Party of Massachusetts. In a statement, Baker and Polito said ranked-choice voting would add "an additional layer of complication for both voters and election officials, while potentially delaying results and increasing the cost of elections." 
            The Ranked Choice Voting 2020 Committee registered in support of Question 2, and has received $10.2 million in contributions for its campaign, and has spent $9.6 million. The No Ranked Choice Voting Committee 2020 has received only $3,975 in contributions and has spent $3,370.

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