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
SUNThisweek — Letter: A better way to vote
Jennifer Arriola in SUNThisweek: To the editor: In American politics these days, it’s all or nothing. Thumbs up for one candidate: thumbs down for the other. You like one side, and you hate the other. Except for the times when you hate both sides. Right? Is this the...
Washington Post: Ranked-choice voting is already changing politics for the better
Katrina Vanden Heuvel in The Washington Post: If you’ve been following New York City’s mayoral race, you might have noticed an unusual trend. Candidates have openly discussed their personal second choices. Activist groups have issued joint endorsements of competing...
Parkers Prairie Independent: Letter to the Editor
Edward TJ Brown in the Parkers Prairie Independent: Kevin Lee is correct that "we've got to meet in the middle." One of the many reasons that I support letting communities use Ranked Choice Voting is that it would encourage all candidates to move beyond their...
Rochester Post Bulletin: Ranked choice letter misleading
Anna Froehling in The Rochester Post Bulletin: RCV is no different from our current two-round system in which voters go to a primary and a general election. If their favorite candidate is out in the primary, they vote for a second choice in the general election or...
Senate DFL Members support Ranked Choice Voting in Minnesota
Minnesota State Senate JOINT PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2021 Contact: Chris Morgan | 817-676-6153 | christopher.morgan@senate.mn Senate DFL Members support Ranked Choice Voting in Minnesota St. Paul, Minn. — On Thursday, Senator Kent Eken (DFL- Twin...
Guest Blog: Want a Stronger Democracy?
By Andy Dawkins Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 65A; 1987 - 2003. Want a stronger democracy? Make sure everyone who wins an election gets 50% of the vote. It’s called Instant Run-Off or Ranked Choice Voting and it’s up for a vote at the MN...
The Atlantic: How to Stop the Minority-Rule Doom Loop
The next two years might be America’s last chance to protect the basic democratic principle of majority rule. Adam Jentleson in The Atlantic President joe biden came into office facing four “converging crises”: COVID-19, climate change, racial justice, and the...
Forest Lake Times: Ranked choice is better for voters
Jen Scott in the Forest Lake Times Today, in most Minnesota elections, a candidate need not earn majority support to win; they can win with less, and sometimes far less, than 50% of the vote. When someone wins with less than a majority, it is called winning “by...
Duluth News Tribune: Ranked voting not difficult, a good idea
Joel T.M. Bamford in The Duluth News Tribune: I am encouraged by the movement for ranked-choice voting, both here in Minnesota and nationwide. Ranked-choice voting is a common-sense improvement to the way we vote. It is simply a better way for voters to choose elected...
Sun Current: Elkins continues push for statewide ranked-choice voting
Mike Hanks in the Sun Current As Bloomington prepares for its first city council election featuring ranked-choice voting, one of the city’s three state House representatives is continuing his push toward expanding the voting system throughout the state. The effort to...