Kent County, MI – On Wednesday, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting the use of a voting system that makes elections more convoluted and less accurate, makes audits virtually impossible, makes it easier for extremist candidates to win, and can delay results for months.
The vote was along party lines with all Kent County Democrats voting against it. The bill bans Ranked Choice Voting, which is being pushed by political extremists, who are circulating petitions to get the issue on the November ballot. The Kent County Republican Party is opposing the issue at every turn.
“Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a dangerous scheme that is presented as enhancing democracy when it actually confuses voters, delays results, and undermines trust in our elections,” said Kent County GOP Chair Lynn Afendoulis. “We are urging every Kent County resident — do not sign the petition. And if this makes it to the ballot in November, join us in voting NO.”
Here’s how it works: Voters rank candidates in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd choices, etc.). If a candidate gets more than half of the first choices, he or she wins. If there isn’t a majority winner, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The votes of those who chose that candidate as their first choice will go to their second choice. The process continues until one candidate is left standing with the majority of votes.
In support of the bill she sponsored to ban RCV, Rep. Rachel Smit (R-Martin), a former township clerk, said it would create chaos and confusion because it is a “logistical nightmare.”
Additionally, Smit said, “…Ranked Choice Voting disproportionately impacts minority voters and those who don’t vote in every election.”
Afendoulis noted that it often has had disastrous results in states that have used it, and 13 states have banned it so far.
She noted one example in California where a school board candidate was declared the winner in November and had to resign his position in February when it was revealed that vote-counting machines had incorrectly tallied ranked-choice votes. https://oaklandside.org/2023/02/21/nick-resnick-resigns-from-oakland-school-board/
“Michigan doesn’t need gimmicks or experiments with our voting system,” she said. “We need elections that are simple, secure, and transparent. Our system works, and it ensures that every vote counts clearly and directly.”
The Executive Committee of the Kent County Republican Party passed a resolution opposing the adoption of RCV, and it urges citizens to stand united in protecting Michigan’s election system by refusing to support the RCV petition and by preparing to reject it at the ballot box if necessary.
The full resolution is available here.
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