Winner-take-all elections force you to vote against what you fear instead of for what you believe. Ranked choice voting and runoff elections fix this — which is exactly why 20 states have rushed to ban them.
First-past-the-post voting was designed for two candidates. We haven't had a two-candidate race in decades — but we're still using the same broken system.
When you vote third-party in a plurality system, you risk electing your least preferred candidate. The two-party establishment depends on this fear. It's the single most effective tool for preventing competition — and it's baked into the rules. Ranked choice voting eliminates the spoiler effect entirely. Which is why the parties are spending millions to ban it.
It's simpler than they want you to think.
Instead of picking one candidate, rank as many as you want — 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and so on.
All first-choice votes are counted. If someone has a majority (50%+), they win. Done.
If no majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Their voters' ballots transfer to their next-ranked choice.
This continues — eliminating and redistributing — until one candidate has a majority. An instant runoff, no separate election needed.
RCV is winning where voters decide. It's losing where legislators decide for them.
Governor DeWine signed SB 63, not just banning RCV but threatening to withhold Local Government Fund money from any municipality that tries to use it. The most punitive anti-RCV law yet.
HostileSB 12 signed by Governor Braun, passed 38-9 in the Senate and 58-30 in the House. Takes effect July 1, 2026.
HostileS.3425 / H.R.6589 — introduced by Raskin and Beyer. Would require RCV for all congressional races by 2030. Pending in committee.
FederalOver 1 million voters participated — the highest NYC mayoral primary turnout in decades. 78% ranked multiple candidates. 96% found it simple. No election-night leader was overturned.
VictoryArkansas, Kansas, Iowa, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming all passed bans. Kansas's was signed by a Democratic governor — the first to do so.
HostileInitiative 83 passed overwhelmingly. RCV will be used for the first time in D.C.'s June 2026 primary. Meanwhile, Alaska's RCV survived repeal by the narrowest margin in state ballot history — 50.1% to 49.9%.
VictoryArizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, South Dakota — voters rejected RCV measures across the board, swept up in a polarized election cycle where any rule changes met suspicion.
SetbackMaine (statewide since 2018), Alaska (top-four + RCV), D.C. (starting June 2026), plus 50+ cities including NYC, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City
Active2024: FL, TN, ID, SD, MT, MO 2025: AR, KS, IA, ND, WV, WY 2026: IN, OH Earlier: KY, OK, AL, MS, LA, and more
BannedA third vote on RCV. The repeal initiative has qualified for the ballot with 42,837 signatures. Both sides are suing over ballot language. The result will set the tone for the entire movement.
CriticalElectoral reform isn't a procedural detail. It's the mechanism that determines whether democracy serves the people or the parties.
In plurality voting, every third-party candidate is a "spoiler." This isn't a side effect — it's the enforcement mechanism of the two-party system. RCV eliminates it entirely. You vote your conscience, not your fear.
Georgia spent $75 million on a single Senate runoff in 2022. Turnout plummets between rounds. Instant runoff voting collapses the process into one election — saving money and ensuring higher participation.
When candidates need second-choice votes, they can't afford to burn bridges. Research shows RCV cities have less negative campaigning and voters report higher satisfaction with campaign tone.
In plurality elections, candidates regularly win with 30-35% of the vote. RCV ensures the winner has support from a real majority. No more governing with a mandate from a third of voters.
96% of NYC voters found RCV simple. 84% of Alaska voters found it easy. 76% of NYC voters want to keep or expand it. The "too confusing" argument evaporates on contact with reality.
If RCV didn't threaten the status quo, 20 state legislatures wouldn't have rushed to ban it. Ohio is literally threatening to defund cities that try it. You don't ban something that doesn't work.
The establishment is counting on apathy. Every action shifts the balance.
Has your state banned RCV? Is legislation pending? Use the bill tracker and FairVote's legislation tracker to know where you stand.
If an RCV ban is pending or passed, your representatives need to hear from you. If no bill exists, ask them to introduce one — for adoption, not a ban. One phone call from a constituent outweighs a thousand social media posts.
The Ranked Choice Voting Act (S.3425 / H.R.6589) would require RCV for all congressional races by 2030. Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators to co-sponsor.
50+ cities already use RCV. Your city could be next. Local wins build momentum and create proof points that make state-level bans harder to justify.
FairVote, Unite America, RepresentUs — these organizations are leading the fight. Volunteer, donate, or amplify their work.
Most people don't know that 20 states have banned a voting system that 96% of users find simple. Awareness is the first step. The parties are banking on your silence.
The two-party system isn't a law of nature — it's a consequence of rules that can be changed. Ranked choice voting and instant runoff elections give you back the power to vote for what you actually believe in. Twenty states are trying to make sure you never get that chance. Don't let them.
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