Write a Letter to the Editor

You, yes you, should write an “LTE”

Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is an incredibly impactful way to advance Ranked Choice Voting. Do not be worried if you have never written one, or if you feel you have nothing new to say. Political power depends on many people speaking up together to demand change. 

Steps to a great letter

  1. Read the “Example Letters” section of this page, so you can be a part of the current conversation. 
  2. Select the newspaper you would like to submit to and learn their submission guidelines (e.g. word count, submission process, etc…).
  3. Aim to convey one or two messages in the “LTE Key Messages” section of this page.
  4. Write a letter that follows the three-part formula.
    1. The Hook. A personal, attention grabbing first sentence that conveys the gist of the letter.
    2. The Argument. One to three paragraphs that flesh out your argument and convey your perspective. Short, simple, and personal is best.
    3. The Call to Action. End with a clear call-to-action for one or two target audiences.
  5. If you would like feedback on what you have written, feel free to reach out to info@fairvotemn.org.
  6. Submit your letter via your newspaper’s submission process.
  7. Let us know what happens, whether or not your letter is published. We would love to echo your work through our channels.

Five Key Messages

The Spoiler Effect

Because of the third-party Spoiler Effect, our elections too often are won by unpopular candidates without majority support. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to express support for third-party candidates while still assuring that the winner is authentically the most representative candidate.

Divisive Polarization

Divisiveness, deceitfulness and polarization are tearing  our communities apart and it needs to stop. We need Ranked Choice Voting because it elevates unifying, truthful, issue-focused leaders.

More Choice + More Voice

Ranked Choice Voting gives voters more choice and more voice: it allows more viable candidates on the ballot while still assuring the winner is the best representative of the community.

Unrepresentative Primaries

The candidates on our local election ballots are chosen at costly, low-turnout, low-diversity, primaries. Let’s use Ranked Choice Voting in the general elections so that we choose our leaders through one efficient, high-turnout, representative election.

It's Non-Partisan Reform

Ranked Choice Voting is non-partisan. RCV elections are won by the candidate that is most unifying, and most representative candidate of their district, whether that person is conservative or liberal.

Example letters

Here’s the evidence supporting ranked choice voting 

A document by Lawrence Jacobs and Penny Thomas provides an unholistic and misleading review of ranked choice voting (RCV). The document mischaracterizes and understates the body of academic research on RCV. A FairVote analysis below demonstrates that claims about the...

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Still looking for logic against RCV

To the Editor: I pride myself for trying to see both sides of an issue, even when I have a strong opinion. I had no opinion on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) until it hit the ballot in Minnetonka a couple years ago. Then I studied it, and was surprised by the lack of a...

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LETTER: RCV is easy

To the Editor: In late August, Minnetonka residents are more focused on going to the lake and the state fair than local elections, but we want you to know there’s an important city question on the ballot this fall: an effort to repeal ranked choice voting for our...

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LETTER: Setting the record straight on RCV

To the Editor: I take issue with several statements Ann Aanestad made in her letter to the editor last week. First of all, I volunteered on the campaign to bring ranked choice voting to Minnetonka, along with many other Minnetonka residents. The notion that an...

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LETTER: Why I’m voting no, in support of RCV

To the Editor: Ranked choice voting is up for a re-vote? This came as a surprise to me since we only just voted to adopt RCV for local elections in 2020 and have only used it once in 2021. And spoiler alert: It was a huge success! That year, there was a competitive...

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LETTER: Join me in voting ‘no’ on repeal of RCV

To the Editor: I was at the Minnetonka City Council meeting on Tuesday when they decided on the wording for this year’s ballot question about repealing ranked choice voting in Minnetonka. I can’t believe we’re going to vote on this again, just three years after a...

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Ranked choice voting back on the ballot in Minnetonka

City Council approves question for November election The topic of ranked choice voting has come increasingly to the forefront of conversations in Minnetonka as election day approaches. This is because at the July 31 Minnetonka City Council meeting, language was...

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