Does ranked-choice voting offer a better system? That’s the topic for the next Badger Club

Polarization dominates our politics. Here on the Eastside, Republican voters feel they have little voice in state politics dominated by Westside Democrats, while Democrats feel shut out from local politics dominated by Republicans.

We’ve seen this play out in recent elections — from local school boards to county commissions to congressional seats. Compromise is a third rail.

Some argue our state’s voting process perpetuates this paralysis and ultimately does not reflect the will of the majority. Primaries select candidates who speak to the extreme base of their parties, leaving moderates and independents in general elections faced with single-party rule or, nationally, grid-lock.

Does ranked-choice voting offer a solution?

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) made a number of appearances around the country this election cycle — from mayoral races in New York to congressional seats in Alaska. Closer to home, Seattle narrowly passed a proposition to implement RCV for city-wide offices, while Clark and San Juan counties rejected similar measures.

This system asks voters to rank candidates in order of preference — first, second, third, and so on. If no candidate receives a majority (more than 50 percent) of first-place votes, the candidate with fewest first-place votes is dropped out, and his or her ballots go to those voters’ second choice. The process continues until one candidate achieves a majority.

The recent U.S. Senate race in Alaska is a prime example. After the first round of tabulation, Lisa Murkowski (R) led Kelly Tshibaka (R) 43.4 percent to 42.6 percent, a very tight race, with Democratic contender Patricia Chesbro at 10.4 percent. Following several rounds of RCV, Murkowski became the clear winner with 53.7 percent, and Tshibaka at 46.3 percent. Democratic voters largely determined the final outcome with Murkowski ranked as their second choice.

Proponents argue RCV more closely reflects the will of all the people, and makes government more functional by encouraging candidates who appeal beyond one party’s base. They argue this increases voter participation and sets the stage for compromise.

Opponents, however, say RCV is costly, confusing, and unconstitutional. They argue it emphasizes congeniality over substance, that candidates cannot be properly vetted in a large field, and that a candidate who “won” the first round of voting with a plurality (say 43 percent) might not be the ultimate winner.

Could voters use RCV to nudge candidates toward more civil campaigns and legislative compromise? To explore this question, the Columbia Basin Badger Club will present two speakers in its Dec. 8 online program:

Lisa Ayrault, executive director of FairVote Washington, will give details and rationales behind a RCV proposal to be introduced in the upcoming state legislative session. Ayrault holds a B.A. in philosophy from Stanford University. She and her husband spent two years as Peace Corps volunteers in Niger, Africa, where living under a military dictatorship impressed upon her the imperative to be an active steward of our democracy.

Mark A. Smith, University of Washington political science professor, will help assess the advantages and drawbacks of ranked-choice voting. Smith completed his undergraduate degree in economics at M.I.T. and earned his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Minnesota. His research and teaching focuses on American domestic politics, including religion, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, and public policy. He is the author of two award winning books and is a regular commentator on national and state politics for print, online, radio, and television outlets.

The Badger Club’s hour-long forum will be held on Zoom and begin at noon. Attendees also can continue the conversation in “Table Talk,” a half-hour open mic session immediately following. Club members attend free, while non-members pay $5. Register at www.columbiabasinbadgers.com.

This story was originally published December 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.