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
DFL may go big, and that wouldn’t be bad
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Find a better path: Support ranked choice voting candidates
To the editor: Tired, like I am, of nasty political ads interrupting a pleasant evening? Disgusted, like I am, of political extremism attempting to divide and destroy? There is a solution. It’s called ranked choice voting, and it’s used in Maine, Alaska, and dozens of...
Back candidates who back ranked choice voting
To the editor: Tragically and for the second time, the Legal Marijuana Now candidate in the 2nd District race has died: Adam Weeks in 2020 and Paula Overby earlier this month. Since Overby’s death occurred so close to the election, she, like Weeks, will remain on the...
Letter: Representing the will of the people
To the editor: Bloomington deserves representation in the Minnesota Legislature that works to make all of us more healthy, safe, and happy. We need legislators who focus on public safety, including access to physical and mental health care, affordable housing,...
LETTER: We should employ RCV to assure majority results.
Pondering "Minnesota's case study in election imperfection," one might reasonably wonder about the relevance in 2022 of the uniquely squeaky 2008 election that pitted Al Franken against Norm Coleman for U.S. senator. Tice was careful to note that voter fraud was not...