The Power of Preference: Rank Your Vote!

Elections are one of the most important ways that people can choose their leaders and make their voices heard. In most elections, voters choose just one candidate, but there are actually many different ways to vote. Some places use first-past-the-post voting, where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if it’s not a majority. Others use runoff elections, where voters come back to vote in a second round if no one gets a majority the first time. One exciting method is Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), where voters rank candidates from their favorite to least favorite. This system allows for more choices and can lead to winners who are supported by the majority, even if they weren’t the first pick for everyone.

Your Task:
Imagine your school is electing a new School President, and there are four candidates running. Each candidate has different goals for the school. Candidate A wants to improve sports facilities, Candidate B is focused on healthier school lunches, Candidate C is pushing for more clubs and activities, and Candidate D wants shorter school days.

• Step 1: Rank these candidates in order from your top choice to your last choice.

• Step 2: Think about why Ranked Choice Voting might lead to a different winner than a regular election.

• Step 3: Write a short paragraph explaining why Ranked Choice Voting might be a fairer system. Does it give a voice to more students? Could it help prevent extreme candidates from winning? Would it help avoid a second election if no one gets a majority the first time? Explain your thoughts!