Letter: Keep voting simple

State Sen. Laura Murphy and Springfield politicians want to make extreme changes to our election system. Why make extreme changes to elections rather than strengthen the system we already have? The onus is on the proponents of ranked-choice voting (RCV) to prove voters need this system. They have failed to make the argument and have provided a solution in search of a problem.

RCV disenfranchises voters and injects chaos at a time when confidence in elections is needed most. As an example, after eight rounds of tabulation in the 2021 New York City mayoral race, more than 140,000 ballots were thrown out. Why? Because of ballot exhaustion. Voters who fail to rank more than one candidate have their vote thrown out if their first choice fails to win.

Votes thrown out. "Wasted." That's not improving democracy.

RCV is far from a foolproof system. Last year, a California school board candidate was declared a winner and then later retracted due to a technical error that produced the wrong results. The race required an audit, and the victor had to use his resources to bring the case to court.

Does that instill confidence in elections or improve democracy?

Stopping RCV isn't a partisan issue. Even progressive Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed the expansion of RCV in California stating,

"I am concerned that it has often led to voter confusion and that the promise that ranked-choice voting leads to greater democracy is not necessarily fulfilled," he said.

If the goal is to minimize the number of votes cast for candidates after they drop out of the race, there are many simpler, less-expensive ways to educate voters.

Illinois residents should reject these changes and urge lawmakers to strengthen and protect our elections.

Andy Bakker

Chicago