Media Kit
We Have a Problem
Political polarization and negativity has reached a crisis point. Americans not only disagree with each other, but fear and demonize those with beliefs different than their own.
Our current election system not only allows, but encourages candidates to run and win with a small base of voters. Since candidates are not required to earn majority support, many leaders take office solely representing their base and ignoring the demands of most Americans. This outdated voting system fuels negative and dishonest campaigning, creates “spoiler” dynamics, and allows winners opposed by a majority of voters. Once in office, rigid hyperpartisanship disrupts collaboration and blocks action on the issues that matter most to voters, resulting in gridlock and government dysfunction.
MEDIA MEMO | September 8, 2021
MEDIA MEMO | October 12, 2021
MEDIA MEMO | October 29, 2021
Minnesotans Have A Solution
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a simple but powerful change to the way we vote that changes the electoral incentives. It empowers voters with more choice by eliminating “the spoiler effect” and leveling the playing field for all candidates, it requires winning candidates to build a coalition of a majority of support through seeking 1st, 2nd, and sometimes additional choices, it ensures broadly supported winners in a single, decisive election, and it reduces negative campaigning. Minnesotans have been pioneering the use of this fair and easy voting method for more than two decades. Voters in cities where RCV is used overwhelmingly report less negative campaigning, increased satisfaction with elections, and a significant preference for RCV over the old system.
Current Legislation Under Consideration
In January 2021 Rep. Steve Elkins (Bloomington) and Sen. Kent Eken (Twin Valley) introduced RCV bills, companions HF89 and SF218, in the Minnesota House and Senate respectively. The appetite for co-authorship was so strong that four total clones were introduced, chief authored by Rep. Frazier (New Hope), Rep. Agbaje (Minneapolis), Sen. Lindsey Port (Burnsville), and Sen. Mary Kunesh (New Brighton).
Those bills include both statewide and local options RCV provisions:
- State and Federal Elections: The bills would require the use of RCV in primary and general elections for state constitutional offices, legislative offices, congressional offices and the office of president.
- Local Option: The bills would allow cities, townships, counties and school boards in Minnesota to adopt RCV by local ordinance – eliminating costly, low-turnout primaries and ensuring majority outcomes in a single, decisive November election when turnout is higher and more representative.
How to describe Ranked Choice Voting
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a simple but powerful change to the way we vote that empowers voters to rank candidates in order of preference, eliminates “the spoiler effect,” ensures majority winners for single seats in one decisive election, and reduces negative campaigning. Minnesotans have been pioneering the use of this fair and easy voting method for more than two decades.
Under RCV, voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like from their favorite to least favorite — first choice, second choice, and so on. In a single-seat election, if a candidate receives a majority (50% + 1) of first-choice rankings, that candidate wins. If not, another round of counting occurs. The candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, and these ballots now count for those voters’ second choices. This process continues until one candidate reaches a majority and wins or in a multi-seat election, until candidates have reached the winning threshold and all seats are filled.Your vote counts for your second choice only if your first choice is eliminated. Sometimes called “instant runoff voting,” RCV is the most cost-effective and efficient way to ensure winners have broad voter support and eliminate spoiler and strategic voting dynamics.
How to describe FairVote Minnesota
FairVote Minnesota works for a stronger democracy through public education and advocacy for electoral reform. We specifically advocate for Ranked Choice Voting, a system proven to be more inclusive, democratic, and representative than our current plurality electoral system. We support RCV and other democracy reforms that promote greater participation, majority rule, and proportional representation.
We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan grassroots organization that engages hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters. Together, we work to educate voters and advance electoral reform at all levels in Minnesota.
Statistics
For full statistics and polling on the Minnesota’s experience with RCV see the Minnesota Dashboard and our 2021 RCV in Minnesota Report.
- Two dozen cities in 17 states use Ranked Choice Voting for local elections. This includes 5 Minnesota cities – Minneapolis, St, Paul, St. Louis Park, Bloomington and Minnetonka.
- More than 545,000 Ranked Choice Voting ballots have been cast in Minnesota since 2009 when Minneapolis began using RCV.
- 93 percent of Minneapolis voters and 90 percent of St. Paul voters in 2017 said that candidates spent little time criticizing each other — and these were in cities with hotly contested mayoral races. In 2019 in St. Louis Park, 71 percent of voters said the same.
- In 2019, when St. Louis Park first used RCV, voter turnout increased by nearly 50% in the November general election, from 4,436 to 6,619 voters citywide over 2015, the last similar election with the Mayor and both at-large council seats on the ballot.
- In 2017, turnout in Minneapolis was 43%, the highest in 20 years and a more than 32% increase over the relatively high turnout in 2013.
- According to election day polling conducted by Edison Research in 2019, 92% of St. Louis Park voters said they found RCV simple to use, including 93 percent of people of color and 90 percent of those aged 55 and older. These results are remarkably consistent with previous RCV election polls in Minneapolis and St. Paul across different levels of income, age and education.
Interview an expert
Jeanne Massey
- Executive Director
- Topics of expertise: RCV implementation and research, Minnesota’s experience with RCV, and voting technology.
- jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org
Karl Landskroener
- Data & Research Director
- Topics of expertise: Data on RCV in Minnesota, campaign strategies under RCV, voter turnout.
- karl.landskroener@fairvotemn.org
FairVote Minnesota Contacts
Jeanne Massey
- Executive Director
- jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org
Erin Zamoff
- Director of Communications and Public Affairs
- erin.zamoff@fairvotemn.org
Join FairVote Minnesota's Press Contact List
Email Liz Johnson: liz.johnson@fairvotemn.org
Press Releases
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...
FairVote MN to host: “Democracy Reform is our Nation’s #1 Priority with US Rep. Angie Craig, Lee Drutman and MN Rep. Cedrick Frazier
Contact: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org, 612-850-6897 St. Paul (January 28, 2021) -- We are at a perilous time in our democracy, and there are growing calls to fortify it against growing threats. FairVote Minnesota...
Victory for Ranked Choice Voting in Two Minnesota Cities: Minnetonka and Bloomington Adopt RCV
Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director: For Immediate Release Contact: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org, 612-850-6897 Victory for Ranked Choice Voting in Two Minnesota Cities: Voters in Bloomington and...
FairVote MN to host: “Tale of Two Crises: Political Polarization and COVID-19 with Dr. Michael Osterholm and Andy Slavitt”
FairVote Minnesota Hosts a Conversation with Dr. Michael Osterholm and Andy Slavitt Contact: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org, 612-850-6897 St. Paul (September 28, 2020) -- FairVote Minnesota (“FVMN”) today announced...
Top Election Reform on the Ballot in Two Minnesota Cities: Voters in Bloomington and Minnetonka Will Decide Whether to Use Ranked Choice Voting to Elect Mayor, City Council
For Immediate Release. Contact: Laura Calbone, RCV Bloomington Organizer, laura@calbone.com, 612.481.4626; David Haeg, RCV Minnetonka Organizer, david.haeg@rcvminnetonka.org, 612.615.9992 Bloomington, MN (September 24, 2020) -- Bloomington and Minnetonka voters have...
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...
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...
Wasted votes are one more reason for Ranked Choice Voting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeanne Massey, Executive Director, FairVote Minnesota; (612) 850-6897; jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org In the wake of three major presidential candidates dropping out on the eve of Super Tuesday, voters and advocates for election reform...
Dean Phillips introduces bill to advance Ranked Choice Voting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org; 612-850-6897 February 28, 2020 (St. Paul, Minnesota) -- Yesterday, Congressman Dean Phillips (D-3rd District, MN) and Senators Michael Bennett (D-CO)...