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States and localities \u200dare discovering the disastrous consequences of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in their elections. \u2064From\u200b Alaska<\/a> \u200dto\u200b Virginia<\/a>, the leftist-backed<\/a> election\u2064 system gaining popularity across the country\u2062 is causing\u2063 confusion among\u200c voters and leading to undesirable outcomes.<\/p>\n

Under RCV, \u200dalso known as “rigged-choice voting” by critics, voters rank \u2062candidates in order\u2062 of preference.\u2063 If \u200bno\u200c candidate receives\u2064 more than 50 percent of first-choice votes in the first round, the\u2064 last-place finisher is eliminated, and their \u200bvotes are redistributed to the voters’ \u2064second-choice candidate.<\/p>\n

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Despite \u200dthe \u200bnumerous failures\u2063 associated \u200bwith RCV, proponents are trying to \u2063deceive voters\u2063 into adopting the\u200b system for their \u200clocal and\u200b state elections. A polling memo \u200bobtained by The Federalist reveals their tactics.<\/p>\n

Produced\u200d by HighGround Inc., a public \u2064affairs consulting\u2062 group, the memo analyzes the most effective pro-RCV talking points to convince voters. The survey, conducted among 500 likely 2024 Arizona voters, found that misleading arguments centered around “fairness” resonate \u200dwith the\u2062 electorate. These arguments claim that RCV empowers voters, ensures equality among\u200b candidates \u2063and voters,\u200d and empowers independents (the largest<\/a> voting\u2063 bloc\u200b in Arizona).<\/p>\n

HighGround’s memo emphasizes the effectiveness of the \u2064”fairness” argument, stating that it is a universally\u200c appealing virtue that is difficult to argue against. The \u2063group believes that these types of arguments can \u200bconvince Arizonans to reject a proposed\u200b constitutional amendment<\/a> in 2024 that would \u200dban the use of RCV in the state.<\/p>\n

In addition to analyzing pro-RCV talking points, HighGround also \u200csurveyed arguments against the system to\u2063 help proponents\u200b counter election integrity activists’ warnings<\/a>. The poll found that claims of RCV causing “absolute chaos” and being \u2063a “dangerous idea” do not resonate \u2062with Arizona voters. However, arguments that RCV would bring\u2063 California-style \u2064primaries<\/a> to the state generate the most opposition.<\/p>\n

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Election integrity experts\u2064 interviewed by The Federalist confirm\u200d that \u2063the\u200c memo validates their concerns about RCV. \u2062Proponents of \u2062the system must \u2064obscure \u2064its true nature and mislead voters\u2062 in order to gain \u2063support.<\/p>\n

<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;\"><a title=\"View Internal RCV Polling on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/685942171\/Internal-RCV-Polling#from_embed\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Internal RCV Polling<\/a> by\u2063 <a title=\"View The Federalist's profile on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/user\/274202084\/The-Federalist#from_embed\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Federalist<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">RCV\u2019s Dark History<\/h2>\nContrary to misleading claims by proponents, \u200dgovernments that have implemented RCV in their elections have produced \u2062unfair outcomes. In Maine’s 2018\u200b elections, for example,\u2063 the incumbent GOP\u200d Rep. Bruce Poliquin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/maine-congressman-loses-seat-in-controversial-ranked-choice-voting-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lost<\/a> to Democrat Jared Golden despite receiving the\u200d most votes in \u200cthe first round. \u2062This outcome was a\u200c result\u200c of \u200bthe \u200dstate’s ranked-choice voting\u200b system.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-87a0672f754fdeb35f8ffd996fef55f6 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-87a0672f754fdeb35f8ffd996fef55f6\"><\/div>\nIn Alaska, undesirable election \u200doutcomes \u200chave also occurred since\u200b the adoption of RCV in 2020. In the\u2064 state’s 2022\u200d special election for its at-large\u200c congressional district, \u200cDemocrat Mary Peltola <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/01\/11\/ranked-choice-voting-keeps-rigging-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">won<\/a> despite nearly 60 percent of voters casting their ballots \u200bfor a Republican.\u200b RCV also played a <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/02\/14\/after-ranked-choice-voting-rigged-their-elections-alaska-conservatives-fight-to-reclaim-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">significant role<\/a> \u200d in helping\u2062 Alaska GOP Sen. \u2062Lisa \u2062Murkowski defeat conservative challenger Kelly Tshibaka in\u2064 the November 2022 midterms.<\/p>\n[[RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/10\/31\/ranked-choice-voting-is-the-monster-under-the-bed-of-american-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ranked-Choice\u200b Voting\u2063 Is The Monster Under The Bed Of American Elections<\/a><\/strong>]\nSeveral \u200dU.S. municipalities that have adopted RCV have also experienced confusing and even <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/03\/17\/minnesota-could-be-third-state-to-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-following-alaska-and-maine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-texas-house-speaker-wants-secure-and-honest-elections-he-should-help-pass-this-bill-banning-ranked-choice-voting\/\" title=\"To ensure secure and honest elections, Texas' House Speaker should support the bill that prohibits ranked-choice voting.\">inaccurate election outcomes<\/a><\/a>. In an Oakland school board race,\u200c for instance, election officials announced two months later that <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/01\/11\/ranked-choice-voting-keeps-rigging-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">they had made a counting error<\/a>, leading to the\u200d rightful winner suing for\u200b their seat. Additionally, a \u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/electiontransparency.org\/2023\/03\/03\/cuccinelli-defeat-utahs-ranked-choice-voting-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Utah town<\/a> that piloted RCV \u200bin its 2021 municipal \u200delections experienced high rates\u200d of discarded or spoiled ballots.<\/p>\nAfter\u200b using RCV in a \u2063primary \u2062election,\u2063 officials in Arlington, Virginia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiamercury.com\/2023\/07\/18\/after-being-first-in-virginia-to-use-it-arlington-hits-brakes-on-ranked-choice-voting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decided<\/a> not\u200b to\u200c use it\u200c in the\u200b general elections due to confusion among voters and concerns \u200dabout \u200doutreach efforts.<\/p>\nHowever, these examples of chaos associated with ranked-choice voting have not deterred advocates from\u2063 pushing for \u200bits adoption in \u200blocal elections across the country. In recent off-year elections, residents in <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganadvance.com\/2023\/11\/12\/three-localities-voted-to-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-but-additional-roadblocks-remain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three\u200b Michigan cities<\/a> voted to adopt RCV for their local elections pending state\u200c legislation. Minnetonka, Minnesota, voters \u200calso <a href=\"https:\/\/www.startribune.com\/minnetonka-votes-to-keep-ranked-choice-voting\/600318188\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">voted<\/a> to keep RCV for municipal contests after first adopting\u2063 it in \u200b2020.<\/p>\nIt’s worth \u200cnoting that both \u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlns.com\/news\/michigan\/mi-house-democrats-introduce-legislation-to-allow-ranked-choice-voting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michigan<\/a> \u2063 and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/03\/17\/minnesota-could-be-third-state-to-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-following-alaska-and-maine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minnesota<\/a> Democrats have introduced bills to authorize \u200cRCV’s use in various elections.<\/p>\nFollowing their successes in 2023, RCV advocates\u200c are aiming to expand the system’s use\u200b in other states and localities. In Nevada, a <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/08\/26\/ranked-choice-voting-is-a-nightmare-and-its-on-the-ballot-in-nevada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pro-RCV constitutional amendment<\/a> \u2064was\u200b passed\u200d in 2022, and if approved again in the 2024 elections, \u2062Nevada will adopt a top-five \u200cRCV system. RCV supporters are also seeking to get\u200c similar initiatives on the ballot in Missouri’s 2024 elections. Other states\u200b targeted by RCV advocates \u200binclude <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Arizona_Open_Primaries_and_Ranked-Choice_Voting_Amendment_(2024)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arizona<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/electiontransparency.org\/2023\/11\/16\/coalition-cautions-wisconsin-legislature-as-ranked-choice-voting-california-style-primary-schemes-seek-footing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wisconsin<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boisestatepublicradio.org\/politics-government\/2023-05-02\/idaho-election-primaries-ranked-choice-voting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Idaho<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Oregon_Ranked-Choice_Voting_for_Federal_and_State_Elections_Measure_(2024)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oregon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-fbe26badaecf4b635997ec7f48b24037 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-fbe26badaecf4b635997ec7f48b24037\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n rnrn <\/p>\n<h2> What are the alleged\u2063 benefits of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in promoting \u200cfairness and voter\u2063 empowerment, according \u200bto its proponents?<\/h2>\n Title: The Troubling Reality of Ranked-Choice Voting: A Deceptive Electoral System<\/p>\nIntroduction:<\/p>\nRanked-choice voting (RCV) \u200bhas gained popularity in recent \u200cyears, with proponents emphasizing \u2062its alleged\u200c benefits in promoting\u2063 fairness and\u2064 voter empowerment. However, several states \u200cand localities are facing the\u2062 disastrous \u2062consequences \u200cof implementing this election \u2062system. From Alaska to Virginia, \u200dthe impact of RCV has caused confusion\u200c among voters and\u2064 led \u200bto \u2062undesirable outcomes. A recent polling memo obtained by The Federalist sheds light\u200d on the deceptive tactics employed by\u2064 RCV supporters to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fec-reportedly-decides-twitter-did-nothing-wrong-suppressing-true-hunter-biden-laptop-story\/\" title=\"FEC Reportedly Decides Twitter Did Nothing Wrong Suppressing True Hunter Biden Laptop Story\">manipulate public opinion<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Mechanics of \u200bRCV:<\/p>\nUnder RCV, also known as “rigged-choice voting” by critics, voters\u200b are requested to rank candidates in order of preference. If no \u200ccandidate receives more than 50 percent of \u2064first-choice votes \u2062in \u200bthe initial round, the last-place finisher is eliminated,\u200d and their votes are \u2064redistributed to the\u2063 voters’ second-choice candidate. This \u200bprocess continues until\u200b one candidate obtains\u200c a majority of the votes.<\/p>\nThe Deceptive Tactics:<\/p>\nDespite the numerous failures\u2063 associated with RCV, proponents continue \u200cto attempt to deceive voters into adopting this \u200bsystem for local \u2063and state elections. \u2063A\u2062 survey conducted by HighGround Inc.,\u2062 a public affairs consulting group, reveals the most effective pro-RCV\u2062 talking points\u200b employed to convince voters. The \u200dsurvey, involving 500 likely 2024 Arizona voters, highlighted\u200d misleading arguments\u200d centered\u200b around “fairness” as particularly resonant with the \u200delectorate. These \u200barguments \u2063state that RCV\u2064 empowers voters,\u2064 ensures equality among candidates and \u2062voters, \u2062and empowers independent\u2064 voters\u2014the largest\u2063 voting\u200c bloc \u2063in Arizona.<\/p>\nThe Power of\u200c the “Fairness” Argument:<\/p>\nHighGround’s memo emphasizes the effectiveness of the “fairness” argument and\u200b suggests that it\u2062 is challenging \u2062to counter. The group believes that these types of arguments can convince Arizonans to reject a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pas-democrat-secstate-resigns-after-botching-process-over-amendment-for-child-sex-abuse-victims\/\" title=\"PA\u2019s Democrat SecState Resigns After Botching Process Over Amendment For Child Sex Abuse Victims\">proposed constitutional amendment<\/a> in 2024 that seeks to\u2064 ban the use of RCV in\u2062 the state. By exploiting \u2064the notion of fairness, proponents of RCV aim to obscure the true nature of the system and garner support.<\/p>\nSurveying Arguments Against RCV:<\/p>\nIn addition to analyzing pro-RCV talking \u200bpoints, HighGround’s survey also explored arguments \u2064against\u2063 the system, aiming\u2063 to help proponents counter election integrity activists’ concerns. The survey found that claims of RCV causing “absolute chaos” and \u2064being a “dangerous idea” did not resonate with \u200cArizona voters. However, \u200darguments suggesting that RCV\u200c would bring California-style primaries to \u200dthe state generated strong opposition.<\/p>\nValidation \u200dof Concerns:<\/p>\nInterviews with election integrity \u200cexperts confirm that the polling\u200b memo aligns with their concerns about RCV. The memo\u2064 reinforces the notion that \u2064proponents of \u2062this system must\u2063 obfuscate its true nature and mislead \u2062voters in order to gain support.<\/p>\nConclusion:<\/p>\nThe\u200c increasing popularity of ranked-choice voting should not overshadow its disastrous consequences. From confusing \u2062voters to yielding undesirable outcomes, the implementation of RCV has raised\u200d serious concerns. The deceptive tactics\u2063 employed by proponents, as highlighted by the HighGround survey, only \u2062serve to\u200b undermine the integrity of\u200c the electoral process. It is<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"States and localities are experiencing firsthand the drawbacks of ranked-choice voting (RCV). From Alaska to Virginia, this left-leaning election system is causing undesirable outcomes and voter confusion. Critics often refer to it as “rigged-choice voting.” RCV requires voters to rank candidates, leading to real-time challenges and concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2104179,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2104178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2104178"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104178\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2104179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2104178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2104178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2104178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}