OPINION: The benefits of ranked-choice voting
The big fights leading up to the 2020 election have been about establishing the ground rules: Who gets to vote? What kinds of machines will count the votes? What information will be collected in the census? How should district maps be drawn?
Here in New York City, we have an opportunity on Nov. 5 to vote on our own ground rules: How do we elect our local leaders? Who gets to have oversight on decisions about the city budget, policing, and land development?
With no citywide offices on the ballot, the November election is likely to have low turnout. Nonetheless, it’s an important one. It is our chance as voters to raise our hands and say yes to transparency, accountability, and, especially, to the ability to rank candidates when we vote in primary and special elections.