State politicians overturned the will of the people. Now they’re fighting back...with a little help from Jennifer Lawrence.
Last week, Maine’s Ranked Choice Voting campaign found an unlikely ally: Katniss Everdeen. But if you’ve been following this issue closely, it makes sense that she volunteers herself as tribute. In the Hunger Games of modern politics, this campaign is building lasting coalitions across party lines to reform our voting process.
Want More Videos? Subscribe! →
Jennifer Lawrence is a Represent.Us Board Member – and like the rest of us, she’s tired of establishment politicians trying to take power from voters. That’s why she’s joining the chorus of support for Mainers to vote Yes on 1 on June 12.
This vote is historic, and the rest of the country is looking to Maine to see how the process works. It will send a powerful message to the rest of the country: In America we don’t let politicians walk all over us.
It is an opportunity to draw a line in the sand with legislators who are ignoring the will of the people.
It’s down to the wire and every bit counts – support Mainers by donating to RCV Maine!
Fighting Back Against the Establishment
Politicians are trying to take away the people’s power in Maine - and voters are fighting back. In November of 2016, 388,273 Mainers voted yes to adopt Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), and three other measures – but within weeks, incumbent politicians tampered with or outright repealed all four of the citizen-backed initiatives. However, Maine’s constitution allows for a “People’s Veto” – a process that allows residents who are unhappy with an enacted state law to put that law up for a statewide vote. Now, two years later, residents are saying ‘no more’ with this people’s veto. Mainers gathered over 80,000 signatures in 88 days to put RCV back on the June 12th ballot.
Want More Videos? Subscribe! →
What is Ranked Choice Voting?
Our current voting system is corrupt and broken. Politicians can rig the system to their benefit, spend endless dollars imparting undue influence, and can create voting strategies that essentially exclude or discount opponents – known as the “spoiler” effect. This “winner take all” approach to voting makes us one of the only countries in the world to effectively have only two parties – while nearly half of all voters are now registered as independents.
You can help Maine right now by donating to the Yes on 1 campaign
Contrary to your curmudgeonly uncle’s opinion, the voices of the American people DO matter. Lee Drutman eloquently writes a compelling case for why the Maine RCV vote is so important. He states that a two party system is inadequate to represent the diversity of public opinion. The share of voters identifying as independents hit a record high of 46% in December of 2017. The share of voters saying a third party is needed hit a record high of 61 percent in Gallup’s most recent polling on the question. And yet our two party duopoly continues to dominate, forcing out other parties and candidates with viable ideas or policy approaches. "Were Maine to move to a ranked-choice voting system, independents and third-party candidates could run without being spoilers, giving voters more choices and making for a more vibrant political debate,” Drutman writes.
RCV allows for a wider spectrum of voices, opinions, and votes to ensure the viability of our electoral system, so that all voters have a voice. Voting Yes on 1 in Maine is a vote for simple and fair elections that gives voters more choices.
Want More Videos? Subscribe! →
RCV Maine has launched a People's Veto campaign to restore Maine's voter-approved, court-certified Ranked Choice Voting law, and they need your help! Your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $100,000 to help them win. Please consider a generous donation to help win YES ON 1 on the June 12, 2018 ballot to protect Ranked Choice Voting.
Countless in-state organizations, individuals, news outlets, local publications, elected officials, and candidates for office support this common sense voting reform. We encourage you to visit their websites, connect with them on social media, and learn more about voting Yes on 1 on the June 12th ballot in Maine.
- RCV Maine
- Maine Common Cause
- Maine Small Business Coalition
- Maine State Employees Association
- Maine Libertarian Party
- Centrist Breakthrough Politics
- Our Revolution
- Maine Green Independent Party
- Maine Student Action
- Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN)
- Maine Conservation Voters
- Represent.Us