Missourians Pass Amendment Banning Ranked-Choice Voting

Voters in Missouri have approved a constitutional amendment that bans ranked-choice voting in the state.

The amendment, known as Amendment 3, was on the ballot in the November 8 general election and passed with 62% of the vote.

Ranked-choice voting is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, the candidate with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on voters' second-place preferences.

This process continues until one candidate receives a majority of the vote.

Supporters of Amendment 3 argued that ranked-choice voting is too confusing and that it gives too much power to special interests.

They also argued that it is unfair to candidates who receive a plurality of the vote but do not receive a majority.

Opponents of Amendment 3 argued that ranked-choice voting is a more fair and democratic system than the traditional first-past-the-post system, in which the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they receive a majority.

They also argued that ranked-choice voting encourages candidates to run more positive campaigns, as they need to appeal to a broader range of voters.

The passage of Amendment 3 is a setback for ranked-choice voting advocates, who have been working to implement the system in more states.

However, it is important to note that ranked-choice voting is still used in some cities and states, including New York City, San Francisco, and Maine.

Conclusion

The passage of Amendment 3 in Missouri is a reminder that the fight for ranked-choice voting is far from over.

While the amendment is a setback for advocates of the system, it is important to remember that ranked-choice voting is still used in some cities and states.

With continued effort, it is possible to make ranked-choice voting the standard electoral system in the United States.