US rank choice voting could encourage moderate shift

Significance

This will make it the largest jurisdiction in the United States to use RCV in an election. Maine became the first state in the United States to use RCV in the 2018 midterm elections.

Impacts

• The costs of mounting a state referendum to adopt RCV can be high, requiring support from individuals and foundations.
• Reliance on external funding for a pro-RCV campaign can leave it vulnerable to charges of “outside money” affecting a state.
• After moves to reduce the partisan redrawing of constituency boundaries, RCV could become the next issue for electoral reform.