Two Connecticut Senators, Democrat Cathy Osten and Republican Tony Hwang, have co-sponsored legislation to provide for Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in elections for Congress, presidential primaries, and certain municipalities. RCV prevents candidates from "splitting the vote," thus giving voters the freedom to choose their preferred candidate without fear of “wasting” their vote.

Nowhere is the “vote splitting” effect more apparent than in presidential primaries, where candidates can earn a major party nomination with a weak plurality of votes. In crowded presidential primary fields, RCV helps ensure the eventual nominee is supported by a broad coalition of voters from different backgrounds. Additionally, RCV promotes civil and cooperative campaigning by incentivizing candidates to earn the second or third place votes of their opponents’ supporters, reducing divisive tactics.

RCV is vital in promoting competition, choice, and cooperation in our elections, particularly in presidential preference primaries. I urge Connecticut state lawmakers to prioritize RCV in the name of a more representative democracy, and I urge voters in our state to email and call your representatives with this message.

Holden Culotta

Guilford