With last week’s primary results, the final scene has been set for another negatively charged, polarizing general election campaign and for Minnesota's next governor to take office -- for the fourth consecutive time -- without the support of a majority of the electorate.

Mark Dayton narrowly won Tuesday’s three-way DFL contest with the support of just 41 percent of party primary voters and if current polls hold true, the winner in November's highly contested multi-party race will -- once again -- be decided by a minority of Minnesota voters.

Burdening our next governor with such a thin mandate is a prescription for four more years of stalemate and divisiveness at a time when leaders who can reach across partisan lines are needed more than ever.

Electing leaders who feel responsible for -- and accountable to -- a majority of Minnesota’s citizens is not only right for democracy, it is imperative for effective governance. 

Mark Dayton was not the only winner last Tuesday to garner less than majority support from primary voters; John Harrington eked out just 31 percent of the vote in a nine-way race to fill Mee Moua’s seat in the Minnesota Senate.

As Minnesotans, we want more choices on our ballots that address the issues we really care about. Yet our outdated voting system doesn’t produce winners who represent a majority of voters whenever there are three or more competitive choices on the ballot.  As voters, we face a dilemma: vote grudgingly for the candidate we can live with, or go with our true preference and risk “wasting” our vote, or worse, helping to elect the candidate we DON"T want to win.

Ranked Choice Voting is the solution to our outdated voting system and can break this dangerous cycle of minority rule, tactical voting, divisive politics and hamstrung leadership.  

We believe that Minnesota voters are ready to upgrade their voting system for the 21st century!  While we can't use RCV this year, to pass legislation and make it a reality in future elections, we need to use this election to educate voters statewide about the potential of reform!

10 Easy and Effective Ways YOU Can Help!

1) Volunteer for RCV at the State Fair (Aug. 26- Sep. 6) -- We need LOTS of volunteers to cover 12 days at the state’s biggest event! Sign up NOW!

2) Write a letter to the editor or commentary to your local paper. See Buzz Cummins’ In Search of Majority letter in the Pioneer Press and find helpful argument in our media packet and talking points, but talk from your heart and let your voice be heard!

3) Tell us why YOU support RCV and we’ll publish it in our next newsletter!

4) If you blog or like to enlighten your Facebook and Twitter friends with new ideas, write about Ranked Choice Voting!

5) Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and share RCV news with your online friends

6) Don't just e-talk -- talk in person to your family, friends and neighbors about RCV!

7) Send us YOUR ideas about how to spread the word about RCV and help us implement your ideas!

8) If you like to work from home, help us with data entry and phone calling!

9) If you are a designer, help us create flyers, invitations and brochures!

10) If you can’t volunteer your time, please make a donation. More than 70 percent of our funding comes from individual Minnesotans like you. Without your support, we cannot bring this change to our electoral process. We know your time is valuable and the demands of your day are many. But sending in a contribution will take only a minute.

Thank you!