Submitted by Michael Hahn, Riverside
To the Editor,
I recently noticed that a task force has been formed to study Ranked Choice Voting, or as it is being branded in Connecticut, “Final Four.” What struck me was the inclusion of two members of the “bipartisan” commission, Senator Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield) and newly elected National Committeewoman to the Republican National Committee, Analisa Stravato, Wilton Registrar of Voters.
Ranked Choice Voting sounds great and is billed as a “solution to partisanship.” However, the facts and history contradict those claims. Currently, RCV is used in Alaska and Maine, two of the least densely populated states in the US. RCV was promoted as a way for the population to participate in more rounds of voting at “once.” However, the reality differs from the rhetoric.
In the state of Maine RCV was voted on as a ballot initiative in 2016 despite staunch Republican opposition. In the 2018 election, Republican Bruce Poliquin defeated Jared Golden 46.3% to 45.6%, with a margin of over 2,000 votes, with 134,000 Mainers supporting Mr. Poliquin to 132,000 supporting Golden. However, after recalculations, Golden ultimately won and currently holds the seat.
In 2020, with immense support from Republican Lisa Murkowski’s campaign, RCV was approved by Alaskans on Ballot Measure 2. The initiative was funded by the PAC Alaskans for Better Elections, which received $2.9 million from Unite America, a Denver-based PAC benefiting center-left wing candidates (Unite America is funded almost exclusively by Kathryn Murdoch, founder of the Quadrivium Foundation.)
Senator Murkowski faced a tough re-election campaign due to her vote to convict then-President Donald Trump. Concerned about losing her election (which she indeed did, as more Alaskans voted against her than for her), she prevailed in large part due to the newly implemented Ranked Choice Voting.
The initiative also dramatically affected the at-large House race, with 58.5% of all Alaskans favoring a Republican, yet the Democrat prevailed.
Ranked Choice Voting is also heavily promoted as part of the “Democracy Suite” of the Dominion Voting Company. The machines, software, upgrades, and continual monitoring and support contracts are worth tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
The slim majorities each party holds in the House of Representatives and Senate are evidence of the stakes in some of these races. Furthermore, the possibility of an Electoral College tie has increased. Mathematically, there is a 1% chance the Electoral College ends 1 in a tie. Should this occur, the Presidential election is thrown to the House of Representatives. Each state delegation votes, with each state awarded one vote. The winner is the candidate who captures 26 States.
Ties do not count. As constituted, the breakdown of State Delegations favors the Republicans 26-22 (with North Carolina and Minnesota having a 50-50 split).
Currently, Maine has two House members, and Alaska has one. So, these two manipulated House seats carry significant weight from a political standpoint. Are we really willing to rest the outcome of the Presidential Election on a computer generated Ranked Choice Voting system?
Ranked Choice Voting efforts in Connecticut have been led previously in part by State Representative Josh Elliott, described as “a liberal voice” who’s Facebook page brags about “fighting for Progressive Legislation.” He considered a run for Secretary of State in 2022.
Governor Lamont’s new task force includes Hwang, along with Democratic Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Democratic Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Democratic State Representatives Aundré Bumgardner and Hilda Santiago, Former Democratic First Selectman of Newtown Dan Rosenthal, Ann Reed of the League of Women Voters, Cheri Quickmire of CT Common Cause and Ms Stravato.
This raises the question: Is Ranked Choice Voting good for the Government of Connecticut, or just for certain people in the Government of Connecticut?
Michael E. Hahn
Riverside
Mr. Hahn is sending this opinion as a citizen and this opinion does not reflect the opinions of any group, committee or organizations he may be affiliated.
1 Currently Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, the “Rust Belt” states are within the margin of error in polling, giving each candidate an even chance of winning, Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, the same.
2 Should the “Rust Belt” go to Biden, and Arizona, Georgia and Nevada to Trump, the 2nd House District of Nebraska will likely serve as either the tying or winning electoral vote in December, NE-2 is currently ranked as a “toss-up) as well. Simple probability gives the chance of this scenario .007 (rounded to 1%).