Want real election reform? Support instant runoff voting

Rhode Island needs some serious election reform. This isn’t about being a Republican or Democrat; this about giving more people a voice. Many candidates are winning elections despite failing to secure majority support, a cornerstone of our democracy. These candidates are winning in three or four-way races where the victor can get as little as 26 percent of the vote.

With everything going on in our democracy, Rhode Island should adopt a novel concept called instant runoff voting. With instant runoff voting, on Election Day, voters would rank candidates instead of only casting a singular vote for one candidate. If no candidate wins a majority, using technology, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and their votes would be redistributed to the second preferred candidate in an instant runoff. This would continue with each round until a candidate has a majority.

Instant runoff voting shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but apparently, it is. R.I. Republican Representatives Blake Filippi, Kenneth Mendonca, Sherry Roberts, Bob Quattrocchi, and Justin Price — notably absent are any Democrats — introduced Joint Resolution H 5513 which adopts Instant runoff voting for all R.I. state races; I disagree with these Republican representatives on many issues, but wholeheartedly agree with them on instant runoff voting. With the Democrats having a monopoly on legislative power and not one Democrat overtly supporting this resolution, the chances are high it will die in committee as it has in the past – for shame.

I hope R.I. Democrats will consider supporting instant runoff voting. This would go a long way to instill faith in our democracy and create conditions that ensure everyone has a voice – no matter the party. Let’s improve our electoral system with this reform designed for the 21st century. Rhode Island’s future is at stake. More choice; more voice; instant runoff voting is the way to go.

For more information, you may e-mail me at Matthew.Fecteau@gmail.com.

Matt Fecteau

Pawtucket