League of Women Voters of Maine P.O. Box 863 Augusta, ME 04332-0863 The League of Women Voters of Maine supports Ranked Choice Voting and encourages Maine citizens to vote on Question 5 this November 8, 2016, because this nonpartisan reform: “Yes” Restores majority rule and results in the election of consensus candidates who are more broadly support by voters. Eliminates vote splitting and the need for strategic voting, so voters never have to vote for the lesser of two evils when there is another candidate they really like. Encourages greater civility in campaigns, as candidates must reach beyond narrow bases of support to build majority coalitions, knowing that negative campaigning can backfire when voters have the power to rank more than one candidate. Works just like actual runoff elections without the cost and delay. Ranked Choice Voting is the most cost-effective and efficient way to conduct a runoff, and it is the only reform that allows overseas and absentee voters to fully participate. Races with more than two candidates have been common in Maine since 1974, and often result in candidates elected by less than half of voters. In 2008, the League convened a study to consider improvements to the way we vote in Maine. In 2011, the League endorsed Ranked Choice Voting as the best solution to restore majority rule, to put more power in the hands of voters, and to reduce some of the negativity in politics. To read the League of Voters of Maine study on Ranked Choice Voting, visit: Submitted August 30, 2016 Question 6: Bond Issue Do you favor a $100,000,000 bond issue for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities, equipment and property acquisition related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $137,000,000 in federal and other funds?
League of Women Voters of Maine P.O. Box 863 Augusta, ME 04332-0863 The League of Women Voters of Maine supports Ranked Choice Voting and encourages Maine citizens to vote “Yes” on Question 5 this November 8, 2016, because this nonpartisan reform: Restores majority rule and results in the election of consensus candidates who are more broadly support by voters. Eliminates vote splitting and the need for strategic voting, so voters never have to vote for the lesser of two evils when there is another candidate they really like. Encourages greater civility in campaigns, as candidates must reach beyond narrow bases of support to build majority coalitions, knowing that negative campaigning can backfire when voters have the power to rank more than one candidate. Works just like actual runoff elections without the cost and delay. Ranked Choice Voting is the most cost-effective and efficient way to conduct a runoff, and it is the only reform that allows overseas and absentee voters to fully participate. Races with more than two candidates have been common in Maine since 1974, and often result in candidates elected by less than half of voters. In 2008, the League convened a study to consider improvements to the way we vote in Maine. In 2011, the League endorsed Ranked Choice Voting as the best solution to restore majority rule, to put more power in the hands of voters, and to reduce some of the negativity in politics. To read the League of Voters of Maine study on Ranked Choice Voting, visit: Submitted August 30, 2016 Question 6: Bond Issue Do you favor a $100,000,000 bond issue for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities, equipment and property acquisition related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $137,000,000 in federal and other funds?