The confusion from the right over ranked choice voting is very confusing to me. If “freedom of choice” is a cornerstone of their belief system, why limit candidates on a ballot to one or two often hyper-partisan choices? Could it be that they really don’t like such radical freedom for Alaska voters?
Baskin-Robbins ice cream is famous for offering 31 different flavors of delicious ice cream: Sometimes I feel like French vanilla, other times maybe a mocha almond fudge, but I’m never a fan of the birthday cake or jelly bean flavors — yuck! If you only want two or three choices of ice cream, you are better off going to a store with fewer options, like 7-Eleven.
With the advent of RCV in Alaska, the 60% of Alaskans who register as politically independent or nonpartisan are finally able to choose the “flavor” of candidate they think best represents their best interests and those of our state at that particular time. Sometimes candidates on a ballot are too far left or too far right on an issue; RCV allows the independent voter the freedom of choice to find just the right candidate among the many on the ballot —the “Goldilocks candidate” — just right.
Vote no on Ballot Measure 2 if you appreciate freedom of choice and nuance in politics (and at the ice cream store).
— Stephen Young
Palmer
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.