Missouri should follow Kansas out of electoral Dark Ages with ranked-choice voting

There is a better way to vote, and Kansas is providing it right now. Not only has the Kansas Democratic Party implemented early voting in its May 2 presidential primary, it’s also mailing out ballots to all registered Democrats and will use ranked-choice voting. This is a trifecta that many states, including Missouri, don’t come close to in 2020.

In fact, Missouri postponed all April elections throughout the state until June 2 through an executive order because of the coronavirus pandemic we’re facing. Kansas didn’t have to choose between canceling an election and upholding our democracy.

As a lifelong Missourian, I believe the state and its municipalities can do better and look across the state line to see how.

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank as many, or as few, candidates as they’d like, giving them more say in the outcome of an election. At the same time, it rewards candidates who adopt electoral strategies to gain widespread support from their party during a primary or from their city in a municipal election. It increases voter participation and engagement, while reducing the number of disaffected voters.

So far in 2020, we have seen nearly 2.2 million wasted votes in the Democratic presidential primary — 9% of those cast. These votes were cast for candidates who have now withdrawn. Had ranked-choice been in place throughout the country in states such as California, Missouri, Texas and Washington, we would have zero wasted votes. Ranked-choice accentuates the positives of early voting without the drawbacks.

For example, when I voted absentee in the Missouri Democratic primary in March, there were more than 20 candidates on the ballot. It would have been great to have had the option to vote for my first-choice candidate, followed by my second choice and so forth. If my first-choice candidate did not receive at least 15% of total votes, my second choice would have then moved up to the No. 1 spot. Instead, voters were forced to be pundits and decide which candidate would be the most electable, or who had the best shot because of fundraising or organization against President Donald Trump. All of this is eliminated with ranked-choice voting. Voters have the freedom to vote for the candidate they like the most without the risk of helping elect the one they like the least.

Ranked-choice voting leads to more civic campaigns and less negative campaigning while benefiting candidates who focus on connecting with more voters. Candidates need to enhance their prospects of being the second or third choice.

If Kansas City implemented ranked-choice voting in its mayoral and City Council elections, the city would no longer need a runoff after the primary. Runoffs seek to protect majority rule, which is good, but they force voters to the polls a second time, which can be hard for those who face challenges getting there. Runoffs also pose a significant additional cost to candidates and municipalities. Ranked-choice saves much-needed funds for a city’s budget at a time when revenue is needed to fund numerous important items such as infrastructure and affordable housing. The system acts as an instant runoff that leads to victory for the candidate with the broadest support.

Kansas deserves to take a bow. At a time when voting by mail will be crucial, the state not only had the foresight to implement this measure for all registered Democratic voters before the COVID-19 outbreak, but it also went to ranked-choice voting knowing that there would be numerous presidential candidates in 2020. Party officials realized single-choice voting is arcane. So many groups or organizations in our society have already realized this, from the Oscars to professional sports leagues’ MVP voting and so on.

Political elections have been stuck in the Dark Ages. In our region, Kansas is bringing them into a brighter light. Let’s all hope others will follow their lead. As a proud Kansas Citian and Missourian, I would like nothing more.

This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Missouri should follow Kansas out of electoral Dark Ages with ranked-choice voting."