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Massachusetts Voters Split On Ranked-Choice Voting

August 13, 2020

When it comes to ranked-choice voting, the people of Massachusetts are not so sure.

A recent poll from WBUR shows that 36 percent of likely Bay State voters support ranked-choice voting and 36 percent (the same amount) oppose rit. The remaining 28 percent are undecided on the matter. The poll has a 4.4 percent margin of error.

Ranked-choice voting would give voters the option of ranking candidates in order of preference rather than simply voting for one. Down-ballot selections of voters could come into play if no candidate wins an outright majority of votes.

Supporters say it prevents candidates with less than 50 percent of the votes from being elected, which they say is a good thing, and that it broadens voters’ choices.

Opponents say ranked-choice voting is that it is confusing for voters and that it gives some voters more say in a race than others, depending on which candidate they vote for.

In 2018, Maine became the first state to implement ranked-choice voting statewide.


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