Ranked choice voting expansion in Maine sent to Gov. Mills
Proponents say a court case in Alaska casts doubt on a Maine Law Court advisory opinion that the voting method violates the Maine Constitution.
This is a beautiful and compelling story about what the People can do. Against all odds, the people in Maine force the politicians to listen. If only “as Maine goes, so goes the Nation”! —Lawrence Lessig
From Maine to New Mexico, citizens across America are clamoring for free and fair elections through Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Our story unfolds as voters organizing to enact the reform face fierce pushback from establishment politicians. The film looks at the historical rise, fall, and rebirth of RCV in the United States and abroad, and embed viewers in the front line of the battle raging over voters’ rights.
Through a ballot measure in November 2016, the citizens of Maine voted to become the first state in the nation to use Ranked Choice Voting statewide for federal and state elections. One year later, the legislature and governor moved to kill the bill, claiming it was unconstitutional. However, the people have final say through a process called the People’s Veto. Now they have 90 days to collect over sixty thousand signatures in the depth of the Maine winter. Will they succeed?
Enlivened with colorful hand-drawn animation, The Battle for Ranked Choice Voting follows Maine’s story, drops in on cities like Memphis, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Santa Fe that have adopted Ranked Choice Voting, and takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of non-plurality systems dominant throughout the world. Follow this citizen uprising to restore our failing democracy!
Shondra was main editor of Errol Morris' Fast, Cheap & Out of Control, and films by filmmakers Jocelyn Glatzer and Tom Curran.
Proponents say a court case in Alaska casts doubt on a Maine Law Court advisory opinion that the voting method violates the Maine Constitution.
Charlottesville will be the second locality in Virginia to use RCV.
The bill would mark the culmination of a historic, decade-long effort to expand RCV to include governor and state legislature races.
A Kansas lawmaker is pushing back on the state's ban of ranked choice voting.
Alaska uses a ranked choice voting system for statewide elections.
A relatively small number of voters can determine the nominees from each party.
RCV can ensure that the best candidate emerges from a crowded field.
RCV is a natural next step building on a series of thoughtful, nonpartisan reforms that have modernized and strengthened Connecticut’s elections.
Under the proposal, voters could rank up to four candidates, including write-ins, for each race.
The new charter includes a pathway to ranked choice voting, as well as other modernizations.
Lawmakers in Harrisburg heard commentary on rank choice voting in a State Government Committee Hearing.
The City Council reaffirmed their commitment to the system, following positive feedback from the 2023 elections.