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
Creating a Racially Just Democracy with Danielle Allen, Stephen Heintz and Sondra Samuels
Wow! More than 400 people tuned in on Thursday to join our event, Creating a Racially Just Democracy. Many of you were inspired by the hopeful message of our expert panel — that we can join together with common purpose and reform our government so it is responsive to...
FairVote MN to host: “Creating a More Racially Just Democracy with with Danielle Allen, Stephen Heinz and Sondra Samuels”
For Immediate Release Contact: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org, 612-850-6897 FairVote Minnesota Hosts a Timely and Important Conversation about the State of Our Democracy with Danielle Allen, Stephen Heinz and...
Star Tribune: Ranked Choice Voting is successful, no wonder it’s use is expanding.
Sen. Dave Durenberger, Rep. Steve Elkins, Mike Osterholm, Kim Nelson in the Star Tribune. It is unfortunate that our Republican colleague Annette Meeks and the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota are leading an effort here in Minnesota and across the country to attack...
Fulcrum: Why Ranked Choice Voting beats Approval Voting
Lee Drutman in The Fulcrum. Drutman is a senior fellow at the think tank New America and author of the forthcoming "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America." Electoral reform is hot these days. Ranked-choice voting is getting...
Escaping the Partisan Death Spiral
Lee Drutman in a Cato Institute Policy Report. As we lurch toward another national election, steel yourself for the familiar ride: incendiary threat rhetoric about the end of America as we know it; cramped debates where nobody proposes anything new and nobody changes...
American Academy of Arts and Sciences: Introduce Ranked Choice Voting in Presidential, Congressional, and State Elections
AAAS: Introduce Ranked Choice Voting Most election outcomes in the United States are determined by winner-take-all electoral systems. The candidate who receives the plurality of votes—that is, more than any other candidate, though not necessarily a majority—wins the...
Blog: Solidarity to bring healing and change
Jeanne Massey: As I write this today, my heart is broken – for my city, for George Floyd and his family, and for our black and brown citizens who are disproportionately impacted by police violence. Seeing Mr. Floyd pinned to the ground pleading for his life is...
Polarization in a Time of Crisis with Lee Drutman and Congressman Dean Phillips
Wow! Over 400 people tuned in on May 6 to hear from national leaders about dangers facing our democracy and what we can do about it. Polarization in a Time of Crisis, with author and award-winning political scientist Lee Drutman and U.S. Congressman Dean Phillips, was...
FairVote MN applauds DFL for use of Ranked Choice Voting for online convention and offers to help all parties
Contact: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org, 612-850-6897 St. Paul (April 2, 2020) -- As the state government works to address the Covid-19 pandemic, the work of democracy and electing our representatives continues,...
Bipartisan Ranked Choice Voting Bill Update
For Immediate Release. Contact: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org, 612-850-6897 St. Paul (March 20, 2020) -- In response to the coronavirus crisis, the Minnesota Legislature adjourned but is serving on-call to address...