On November 29, 2023

State needs new voting option

 

Dear Editor,

Last year, the Vermont Senate advanced a bill to bring Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to presidential primaries, beginning in 2028. This bill had support from the three parties and the Vermont Secretary of State. But the Vermont House needs to act.

Our current “choose one” voting system leaves many voters with no meaningful options and advances candidates who lack broad support. RCV is a better way forward. It’s currently used by more than 13 million Americans in cities from NYC to Burlington, Vt., and Maine and Alaska, where it is used in federal and presidential elections.

RCV cuts down on wasted votes for candidates who drop out. In Vermont, a high percentage of voters vote absentee weeks ahead of the election. This is also true for overseas and military voters.

RCV offers more choices, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. This eliminates spoilers who can split the majority vote between two similar candidates.

Please consider contacting your Vermont House Representative and urge them to support RCV in the 2028 presidential primary.

For more information on how Ranked Choice Voting works, go to betterballotvermont.org (a local option) and fairvote.org (a nationwide resource).

Carol Clauss,

Bristol

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

No on proposed cell tower

February 12, 2025
Dear Editor, We are writing in stark dissent of the proposed cell tower in Hartland Four Corners. Our dissension is based on several critical factors: IllegalityAccording to local ordinances, no construction shall surpass tree height, yet the proposed tower of 170+ feet far exceeds the height of any local flora. Health risksAccording to the American…

Trust in government officials through ethics standards – Vermont Act 171

February 12, 2025
Dear Editor, Act 171 has opened a door for Killington to strengthen trust between town officials and the community they serve. For seven years I was a law enforcement officer in the city of Alexandria, Virginia, a stone’s throw south of Washington, D.C. The profession comes with a heightened level of community trust, and to…

Why chaos and scapegoating work for Trump

February 12, 2025
By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the publisher of the Addison Independent, a sister paper of the Mountain Times. As the nation’s increasingly discredited president continues to sow chaos at every level — domestic and international — it helps to understand what we can of his tactics. A recent piece by Jess Bidgood,…

Medical debt relief is a direct investment in Vermonters

February 5, 2025
By Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak As Vermont’s Treasurer, I am committed to making investments that lower costs, strengthen our economy, and support healthier communities. I believe every Vermonter deserves a fair shot at success, regardless of the situation they are born into. Yet, for too many Vermonters, the cost of health care stands in the…