Six states, Washington to vote on ranked choice voting

| Joe Fisher | UPI |

Oct. 25 (UPI) — Ranked choice voting will appear on the ballot in six states and Washington on Nov. 5, possibly changing how those states administer elections.

Voters in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, D.C., will vote on propositions to adopt ranked choice voting for primaries, local, state and federal elections. Missouri will vote on an amendment to pre-empt and effectively ban ranked choice voting. Alaska will vote on repealing ranked choice voting after approving it in the 2020 election.

Deb Otis, director of research and policy for FairVote, told UPI candidates are incentivized to focus more on policy when campaigning.

“There is less mudslinging and negative campaigning,” Otis said. “Going really negative can cost you second-choice votes.”

Otis adds that ranked choice voting gives minority populations more voice and levels the playing field for a more diverse and representative slate of candidates to pursue office.