Write a Letter to the Editor
You, yes you, should write an “LTE”
Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is an incredibly impactful way to advance Ranked Choice Voting. Do not be worried if you have never written one, or if you feel you have nothing new to say. Political power depends on many people speaking up together to demand change.
Steps to a great letter
- Read the “Example Letters” section of this page, so you can be a part of the current conversation.
- Select the newspaper you would like to submit to and learn their submission guidelines (e.g. word count, submission process, etc…).
- Aim to convey one or two messages in the “LTE Key Messages” section of this page.
- Write a letter that follows the three-part formula.
- The Hook. A personal, attention grabbing first sentence that conveys the gist of the letter.
- The Argument. One to three paragraphs that flesh out your argument and convey your perspective. Short, simple, and personal is best.
- The Call to Action. End with a clear call-to-action for one or two target audiences.
- If you would like feedback on what you have written, feel free to reach out to info@fairvotemn.org.
- Submit your letter via your newspaper’s submission process.
- Let us know what happens, whether or not your letter is published. We would love to echo your work through our channels.
Five Key Messages
The Spoiler Effect
Because of the third-party Spoiler Effect, our elections too often are won by unpopular candidates without majority support. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to express support for third-party candidates while still assuring that the winner is authentically the most representative candidate.
Divisive Polarization
Divisiveness, deceitfulness and polarization are tearing our communities apart and it needs to stop. We need Ranked Choice Voting because it elevates unifying, truthful, issue-focused leaders.
More Choice + More Voice
Ranked Choice Voting gives voters more choice and more voice: it allows more viable candidates on the ballot while still assuring the winner is the best representative of the community.
Unrepresentative Primaries
The candidates on our local election ballots are chosen at costly, low-turnout, low-diversity, primaries. Let’s use Ranked Choice Voting in the general elections so that we choose our leaders through one efficient, high-turnout, representative election.
It's Non-Partisan Reform
Ranked Choice Voting is non-partisan. RCV elections are won by the candidate that is most unifying, and most representative candidate of their district, whether that person is conservative or liberal.
Example letters
Ranked choice voting, local assistance highlight elections supplemental funding bill
The Office of the Secretary of State is expected to receive about two-thirds of supplemental funding allocated for elections functions. Much of that would tie into a policy provision that would let cities, counties and school districts use ranked choice voting for...
Minnesota lawmakers consider ranked-choice voting bill
ST. PAUL — A bill in the Legislature would allow Minnesota cities and counties the option of using a ranked-choice voting system. In a ranked-choice voting system, voters can rank multiple candidates in order of their preference. From there, the candidate with the...
Bill would expand ranked choice voting in Minnesota
Letter to the Editor: Applauding ranked choice voting
I’m thrilled there is a bill at the state legislature that would give all Minnesota cities the ability to adopt ranked choice voting. While five cities in our state already use ranked choice voting for their local elections, the vast majority — including my home city...
Voting Rights Symposium at St. Thomas Examines Access to the Ballot Box
Kicking off Black History Month on Feb. 1, national and state thought leaders and elected officials convened at the University of St. Thomas to examine the past, present and future of voting rights. The Symposium on Voting Rights, co-hosted by the university’s Racial...
2023 Ranked Choice Voting Elections in Minnesota: Bloomington, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and St. Paul
Summary This fall, Bloomington, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, and St. Paul all used ranked choice voting for their municipal elections and were among 21 cities in seven states using ranked choice voting across the country. Minnetonka voters also considered...
A Victory for Local Democracy: Minnetonka Rejects Repeal and Votes to Save Ranked Choice Voting
Minnetonka, MN (November 7, 2023) -- Tonight, Minnetonka voters resoundingly rejected a City Charter amendment to repeal ranked choice voting (RCV), and for the second time in three years, Minnetonka voted in favor of ranked choice voting for its municipal elections,...
Here’s the evidence supporting ranked choice voting
A document by Lawrence Jacobs and Penny Thomas provides an unholistic and misleading review of ranked choice voting (RCV). The document mischaracterizes and understates the body of academic research on RCV. A FairVote analysis below demonstrates that claims about the...
Still looking for logic against RCV
To the Editor: I pride myself for trying to see both sides of an issue, even when I have a strong opinion. I had no opinion on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) until it hit the ballot in Minnetonka a couple years ago. Then I studied it, and was surprised by the lack of a...
A majority of Minnetonka voters support RCV, a more inclusive way to vote
To the Editor: Bruce Honnigford’s August 29 letter included misinformation, as well as conspiracy theories, about ranked choice voting and its adoption in Minnetonka that must be corrected. First, the movement to bring ranked choice voting to Minnetonka was started...