KC Star Article

Kansas City, here’s how to elect candidates who represent our community’s consensus

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Kansas City, here’s how to elect candidates who represent our community’s consensus

Kansas City, here’s how to elect candidates who represent our community’...

This system gives us leaders with broad support and punishes politicians who lean into extreme partisanship. | E...

Excerpts:

Kansas Citians could elect their mayor and City Council in a dramatically different way next year.

It’s called ranked choice voting, or RCV. Growing numbers of cities and states use RCV to increase interest and turnout, attract more quality candidates, and reduce the impact of negative campaigns.

Kansas City could be next.

A committee called Better Ballot KC has conducted a petition drive to put local ranked choice voting on the ballot. The group recently submitted petition signatures to the clerk and should learn this week if it has enough valid signatures to force a vote to amend the charter.

The goal is to put RCV on the ballot in August or November. If voters say yes, the system would then be in place for all city elections in 2023. . . .

Voters need quality candidates, and quality campaigns. Ranked choice voting could help provide both. Better Ballot KC has provided an opportunity for RCV here, and we should take it.