| Megan Vaz | Yale Daily News |
CONNECTICUT — Under a newly proposed bill, the state would adopt a system of ranked-choice voting for state and federal elections, a policy supported by Governor Ned Lamont.
Yale students have joined forces with local organizations to push for ranked-choice voting in federal, state and local elections — an initiative that is gaining ground as the state government considers new legislation.
”Ranked choice voting helps incentivize voter participation...
Under a proposed state assembly bill filed by freshman Rep. Keith Denning of district 42, Connecticut voters would be able to rank multiple candidates, either from different or the same parties, by preference during elections.
“I think that there are a considerable number of people in Connecticut who support other parties, or other factions within a party, and just don’t have a chance to express that,” said Michael Garman ’25, chair of student group Elm City RCV and a former staff photographer for the News. “If you look at the cities that have adopted it, whose diversity of identities and ideas is much closer to the general population, it also boosts turnout — especially among younger people, which is a major problem here in New Haven.”
In a statement to the News, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker shared his support for adopting ranked-choice voting in city elections, stating that he would personally vote for the policy change if approved by the charter revision commission and alders.
“In a multi-candidate election, ranked choice voting helps incentivize voter participation, provides voters with more choice and opportunity to make their voices heard, and ensures that the candidate who is ultimately elected has earned the support of a broad majority of voters,” Elicker wrote. “It’s been successful in other cities and states, and I think could work well in New Haven and Connecticut as well.”
