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

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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LETTER: In support of RCV for Minnetonka

To the Editor: In 2020, we joined with members of our community to bring ranked choice voting to Minnetonka to make our local elections more representative and inclusive, and in November of that year, RCV was approved by 54.7% of Minnetonka voters. Now, less than...

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Leading the way on ranked choice voting

As part of an effort to end divisive and negative election campaigns and polarized governance, U.S. election officials and policymakers are turning to ranked choice voting (RCV), otherwise known as instant runoff voting, to make our elections more civil, fair, and...

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Ranked Choice Voting is the next step for democracy reform

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) has been gaining momentum across the country, but nowhere is the momentum greater than right here in Minnesota. And for good reason: RCV promotes a vibrant democracy that boosts turnout and is more representative and less divisive. Under a...

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Ranked-choice voting: It’s long past due

To the editor: There is an excellent opportunity for ranked-choice voting to pass in Minnesota this year — a local option to let cities like ours adopt RCV if we wish and a task force to consider RCV statewide. This year’s legislation creates a process for...

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A simple reform that can save our democracy

Politics are so heated today. We are at a crisis point in our democracy as it has rapidly become so divided. How do we make sure all of our voices are heard without dividing us? Ranked Choice Voting is a simple change to the ballot that empowers voters to rank...

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Minnesota elections could see ranked-choice voting by 2026

A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature, introduced on March 1, would implement ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal and state elections. The bill most recently had hearings in the House Elections, Finance and Policy Committee and the Senate Committee on State and...

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Ranked-choice voting’s time has come

It is time to move forward on ranked-choice voting to reduce polarization and extremism in our politics. I'm proud of Minnesota's national leadership when it comes to voting. We are the "North Star State" when it comes to advancing democracy, and ranked-choice voting...

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