LUDLOW—Former Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman recently addressed the Ludlow Rotary Club, making a case for ranked-choice voting in elections with multiple candidates. He argued that allowing voters to rank their choices rather than select just one could foster broader participation and more open dialogue among candidates.
“Ranked choice voting gives voters more voice and opens the door for more candidates to run without fear of being spoilers,” Zuckerman told attendees.
Currently used in states like Maine and Alaska, the voting method eliminates the candidate with the fewest votes and reallocates those votes based on voters’ next preferences until one candidate receives a majority. While Zuckerman acknowledged that the process could slow election result reporting, he said that the benefits of more representative outcomes outweigh the inconvenience.
Ranked choice voting has gained attention nationally and is under consideration in some states for use in presidential primaries, though it has been banned in others, such as West Virginia and Wyoming.
Zuckerman, who has served in Vermont politics as a legislator, senator, and lieutenant governor since 1996, continues to advocate for voting reforms and increased civic engagement.
