By Mark Bauer
When some hear the word “volunteer,” they might not immediately associate it with boldness or transformation. But that’s exactly the kind of image that comes to mind when we think of the volunteers putting in countless hours for democracy reform. Volunteers are the backbone of political movements and cultural change. They’re not only capable of envisioning a more equitable and fair world, they’re willing to roll up their sleeves to make it a reality.
And the merits of volunteerism aren’t measured solely on their productive output, volunteerism contributes to a more enriched and enmeshed community more broadly.
In his book Bowling Alone, author Robert Putnam explains how volunteering not only builds stronger democracies through civic engagement, but also reinforces the sense of community essential to lasting change.
“I talked about the consequences of our connections with other people, both our actual in-person connections and our connections through political organizations,” Putnam said in a recent interview with VOX. “And that, as a community in which people are more connected with one another, the whole community functions better, not just the two people involved in a given exchange.”
Indeed, in a world that is quick to ask: “What’s in it for me,” volunteers recognize that stepping up to the plate can usher in changes that far exceed what they stand to benefit personally.
Despite those community benefits, an AmeriCorps study indicates that Gen Z volunteer rates declined to 20 percent, compared to 30 percent for Gen X. That makes the folks who do dedicate their time to this political movement all the more rare, and all the more worthwhile.
For Volunteer Week, Rank the Vote seeks to honor the hundreds of volunteers who knock on doors, host house parties and staff informational tables, all in an effort to educate voters about how something as simple as ranking your candidates on a ballot can transform how we elect our representatives.
Below, we’ve highlighted a half dozen leaders from across the country who are organizing for a better political future. Hear from them about why they believe in the work promoting ranked choice voting! And then, consider joining the movement.
Ron Zimmerman, Rank MI Vote
“The time for serious election reform is now. By adopting Ranked Choice Voting we can reduce polarization and empower third-party and independent candidates without being accused of ‘spoiling’ an election.” – Ron Zimmerman
Pat Zabawa, Rank MI Vote
“In a time of rising turmoil and uncertainty, it’s very clear our current system is wholly incapable of addressing the issues that matter most to voters, when thousands of Michiganders said yes to Rank MI Vote in a single weekend, it’s a clear sign that people are hungry for real, tangible change – and ready to get their hands dirty to make it happen.” — Rank MI Vote Executive Director Pat Zabawa
Elaine Stephen, Fair Vote Kansas
“Ranked choice voting will ensure that candidates win with majority support in the one general election, return faster results, strengthen our communities, and give voters the freedom to better express their preferences without splitting the results.” – Elaine Stephen
April, Nicklaus, Voter Choice NJ
“At its core, RCV is a simple, effective, and EXCITING way to improve our elections. Explaining that to others may take some practice, but it’s rewarding and worthwhile. Whether you volunteer with Voter Choice NJ and talk to friendly strangers during a Day of Action, or simply broach the subject with your own family and friends, RCV education is the most important thing we can all do to build the movement.” – April Nicklaus
Greg Dennis, Voter Choice Massachusetts
“What ranked-choice voting does is give voters more voice and more choice. You may have been in an election where you wanted to vote for an underdog candidate, maybe a third party or independent candidate but felt like you couldn’t, that you’d be throwing their vote away on someone who doesn’t have a shot of winning. Maybe you wanted to vote for one of the major candidates in the race, but felt like one of those extra candidates was going to siphon votes away and cause your favorite candidate to lose. That kind of dilemma creates a lot of division in our politics. It means voters feel like they have to settle for the lesser of two evils and means candidates sometimes feel like the election was spoiled by someone that had no business being in the race.” – Greg Dennis
Jack Cunningham, Voter Choice NJ
A software engineer by trade, Jack is committed to solving problems with empathy and scalable solutions. Ranked-choice voting is a fix we can deploy today that would fix many of the structural problems that frustrate voters.
Help get ranked choice voting on ballots across the country by joining us or by donating.
The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rank the Vote.
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Mark Bauer is a producer, entrepreneur, day trader and former Independent candidate for Congress in Texas. Previously he spent 10 years as a legal journalist covering the legal market in Texas and regulatory issues in Washington DC.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Rank the Vote, its members, supporters, funders, or affiliates.
