Thank you for writing to your lawmaker in support of Ranked Choice Voting! You can amplify your impact by submitting testimony to the House Committee on Rules, who will be reopening the public hearing for HB 2004 on Tuesday, March 21st.
How to Testify In-Person or Virtually
- Register to testify on Tuesday, March 21st by visiting the Oregon Legislature’s website, clicking the “Register to Testify” button, and filling out the form.
How to Submit Written Testimony
- Visit the Testimony Submission Form for HB 2004
- Fill in your name, email address, and city of residence
- Be sure to check “support” on “Position on this bill”
- Select “Text Testimony” and write your testimony in
Tips for Writing Testimony
- Start by saying who you are and why you care about this issue
- Personalize your comments: Avoid jargon or using too many statistics; speak to your own experiences that have shaped your opinion on this issue.
- Include why you support this legislation:
- Do you think Ranked Choice Voting would give you a more meaningful voice in our democracy?
- Have you personally experienced the limitations of the current “choose-one” election model? How do you think Ranked Choice Voting will address those limitations?
- Do you wish politicians would tone down their negative campaigning?
- See testimony that others have submitted
- See our summary below for info on HB 2004
HB 2004: Ranked Choice Voting
Ranked Choice Voting is a proven voting method to better achieve several important goals:
- More reflective representation – Most importantly, ranked choice voting allows a broader range of candidates to run for office (without fear of splitting the vote), leading to a more diverse candidate pool and ultimately to more reflective representation.
- Less negative campaigning – It also incentivizes more civility on the campaign trail, as candidates seek not only to win voters away from their opponents, but in some cases, to become the second or third choice of their opponents’ voters.
- Better voter experience – Ultimately, voters tend to like ranked choice voting because it provides a more meaningful choice. Voters can vote their true preferences without fear of wasting their vote or contributing to a “spoiler” effect. If their first choice is eliminated, their secondary preferences are still taken into account in subsequent rounds, resulting in a higher level of voter support for the final winner and more voter satisfaction.