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
- Read the “Example Letters” section of this page, so you can be a part of the current conversation.
- Select the newspaper you would like to submit to and learn their submission guidelines (e.g. word count, submission process, etc…).
- Aim to convey one or two messages in the “LTE Key Messages” section of this page.
- Write a letter that follows the three-part formula.
- The Hook. A personal, attention grabbing first sentence that conveys the gist of the letter.
- The Argument. One to three paragraphs that flesh out your argument and convey your perspective. Short, simple, and personal is best.
- The Call to Action. End with a clear call-to-action for one or two target audiences.
- If you would like feedback on what you have written, feel free to reach out to info@fairvotemn.org.
- Submit your letter via your newspaper’s submission process.
- 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
Ranked Choice Voting is the answer for Minnesota (Owatonna People’s Press)
In Minnesota, in every election cycle for the past two decades or longer, we have seen major political races won by candidates securing less than majority (50%) of the vote. Think Governor Ventura and Senator Franken and Governor Pawlenty and others. Again, this year,...
Go big with RCV (Star Tribune)
Kudos to Lori Sturdevant for urging the Minnesota Legislature to "go big" (Opinion Exchange, Jan. 8). But what distinguishes bold ideas that ignite overdue social change from those that are just boldly foolish? Political ideas that later become recognized as historic...
For Immediate Release: Former Senate Leader Melisa López Franzen and Luverne Area Community Foundation Executive Director Emily Crabtree join FairVote Minnesota’s Board
For Immediate Release Contact: Erin Zamoff, FairVote Minnesota Director of Communications and Public Affairs, 952-334-8313 New board members begin as FairVote Minnesota launches historic legislative campaign to bring Ranked Choice Voting statewide. St. Paul (January...
Minnesota showing the benefits of ranked choice voting (Minnesota Reformer)
Minnesota is once again leading the way on election innovation. In 2009, Minneapolis became one of the largest cities to utilize ranked choice voting (RCV) rules for municipal elections. St. Paul followed suit for mayoral and City Council elections beginning in 2011....
DFL may go big, and that wouldn’t be bad (Star Tribune)
I've been listening for one word — "overreach" — in the early days of the all-DFL production that opened last week at the State Capitol. Use it in a sentence, you kindly ask? Here you go: "DFLers had better be careful not to overreach on spending (or taxes, or guns,...
Some modest reforms to improve Minnesota democracy (Minnesota Reformer)
Last month, Minnesotans again led the nation in voter turnout. The state’s strong performance is one measure of civic success, but in others Minnesota still has room for improvement. Here are some areas the new Legislature should prioritize that would strengthen our...
Minnesota should join Alaska, pioneer ranked-choice reform (Star Tribune)
Rep. Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native and first woman to represent her home state in the U.S. House after a special election in August, has now been re-elected to a full term, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, in the first statewide general...
We can fix our political mess with Nov. vote (Laker Pioneer)
To the editor, Whomever you voted for in 2020, you and I almost certainly agree on one thing: we’re tired of angry, broken politics. Our politics have gotten divisive and extreme, and it shows. It seems like every day we’re hearing about another crisis: the border...
Ranked Choice Voting (St. Cloud Times)
To the editor: My political views often strike a more balanced position between the two parties. This stands true even more so today, given the heated and extreme rhetoric between Democrats and Republicans. This year, I feel I must vote for Democrats Aric Putnam and...
Support ranked-choice voting (White Bear Press)
Ranked-choice voting (RCV) promotes political moderation and compromise. Indeed, according to Prof. Larry Diamond of the Hoover Institution at Stanford, while some other reforms would be helpful (e.g., multiseat legislative districts), RCV is the single best...