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
MinnPost: Rank-choice voting can serve as a bulwark against extremism
This simple but powerful reform fosters political competition and requires winning candidates to build majority coalitions. Jeanne Massey in MinnPost Anti-democratic forces that have been gaining steam in recent years reached a boiling point in the 2020 election...
Women Leading Democracy Forward
Close to 200 people tuned in Tuesday, April 6 to join our powerful conversation, Women Leading Democracy Forward, with national democracy expert and award-winning author, Professor Danielle Allen, State Senator Melisa Franzen and State Representative Kelly Morrison...
Duluth News Tribune: Ranked Choice Voting could help in Ely
Tom Benson in the Duluth News Tribune I could barely keep from spitting out my coffee at the laughable statement on ranked-choice voting in the News Tribune’s March 15 “Our View” editorial, headlined, “Like Duluth, state can reject confusion of ranked-choice voting.”...
Duluth News Tribune: In Response: Ranked voting would be more representative, easy to use
Liz Johnson and Katie Humphrey in the Duluth News Tribune When Duluth voted down ranked-choice voting in 2015, there was widespread misinformation about the system. Unfortunately, the News Tribune continued to spread disinformation with its March 15 “Our View”...
Sun Sailor: It is Plymouth’s time to adopt ranked-choice voting
Michael Hearne in The Sun Sailor To the Editor: As the dust settles on the most contentious presidential election in modern history, the Plymouth City Council is showing its leadership by studying ranked-choice voting at a study session April 13. I believe it is the...
Black Leaders at the Forefront of Democracy Reform
Black Leaders at the Forefront of Democracy Reform was a compelling discussion about reforming our political system to yield a more just, inclusive, and representative democracy. The conversation was led by University of Minnesota Professor Michael Minta and featured...
Alexandria Echo Press: Here’s a way to undo toxic partisanship that threatens our democracy
Lonnies Wing in the Alexandria Echo Press To the editor: What if I told you there was a way to begin to undo the destruction created by the zero sum toxic partisanship that threatens the very existence of American democracy? What if I told you there was a way to...
MN Business Leaders Testimony regarding the S.F. 708 Committee Hearing
Dear Minnesota Legislators, We are writing to urge you to support the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) bill that is advancing at the legislature this session and to block preemptive bills. The pro-RCV bill (HF 89/SF 218) would implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in primary...
Dr. Michael Osterholm’s Testimony regarding the S.F. 708 Committee Hearing
Dear Chair Kiffmeyer and members of the State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee, Our world changed one year ago this week, when a national emergency was declared in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, our nation’s response to the...
Sun Current: Support statewide ranked-choice voting
Emily Bryant in The Sun Current: To the editor: Polarization is ubiquitous across the political landscape, and it’s tearing apart our nation, our states, our communities and even our families. While this affliction is driven by many factors, there is a remedy....