About the Film

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!

The Filmmakers

Julie Mallozzi

Julie Mallozzi

Director

Julie's films have won awards at festivals around the world and have screened in museums, universities, and on public television. She also produces videos and transmedia projects for community organizations.
Scotty Vercoe

Scotty Vercoe

Producer/Composer

Scotty has composed/produced for MIT, The National Film Preservation Foundation, The Echo Nest (now Spotify) and Wax Idiotical Films. He recently scored the documentary The Man in the Cowboy Hat, about peace activist Carlos Arredondo.
Shondra Burke

Shondra Burke

Editor

Shondra was main editor of Errol Morris' Fast, Cheap & Out of Control, and films by filmmakers Jocelyn Glatzer and Tom Curran.

Thomas Danielczik

Thomas Danielczik

Director of Photography

Thomas' narrative and documentary work has appeared on History, Discovery, National Geographic, PBS, A&E, ABC, AMC, MSNBC and TLC.

RCV in the News

Connect

Find your state group at Rank the Vote, a national grassroots RCV organizer
Learn more about RCV and other electoral reforms at FairVote
Visit Election Reformers Network, a supporter of this film and election reform initiatives worldwide

Contact the Filmmakers