Strong Voices Candidate Survey

I support ranked choice voting because it gives voters more power and a stronger voice. Instead of choosing just one candidate, voters can rank candidates in order of preference. This ensures that the eventual winner has broad support, not just a narrow plurality.

Ranked choice voting reduces the “spoiler effect,” where similar candidates split votes, allowing someone with less overall support to win. It encourages more candidates to run, including women, people of color, and independents, without fear of being dismissed as “splitting the vote.” Voters also benefit because they can vote for the candidate they truly believe in, knowing their vote will still count if their top choice doesn’t win.

Finally, ranked choice voting fosters more positive and inclusive campaigns. Since candidates seek to be voters’ second or third choice as well, they’re less likely to attack opponents and more likely to focus on shared goals. The result is a healthier democracy that reflects the will of the majority and builds stronger consensus around elected leaders.

RCV allows voters to more confidently vote for who they WANT to be elected instead of voting in FEAR of who they don’t want to be elected. It gives more freedom to vote for who you feel the best candidate is, regardless of where they may stand in polls.

It’s a big part of why I got into government. RCV makes elections kinder and fairer.

It is an option to explore. I do believe that the primary should be non partisan in order to give a voice to all eligible voters.

I believe this could engage and educate more voters about local issues as well as the candidates on the ballot.

RCV will help make our democracy healthier. Ensures the victor wins with a majority rather than plurality, discourages vicious attacks from other candidates, and eliminates the spoiler effect.

Jennifer Dougherty
The City of Frederick conducted a multi-year effort to reform the elections. The incumbents all chose to adopt Districts and At-Large reform as opposed to RCV. Making another change makes it confusing for voters and does not guarantee more candidates. In this election, only one race – the At-Large race would be impacted. In statewide races, I am not opposed to RCV.

Donna Kuzemchak
It is a more fair way to elect people. I can rank someone a zero or I can rank in the order I prefer.

Libby Taylor
I support ranked choice voting because it gives residents a stronger voice. It ensures every vote counts, reduces negative campaigning, and helps elect candidates who truly reflect the broad support of our community. It’s a fairer, more representative system for Frederick.

Cesar Diaz
The establishment of City Council Districts was a good first step to allow more direct representation for residents. Ranked Choice voting is the next step to allow individual voters to have their vote carry more weight. This needs to happen in Frederick before the 2029 city elections.

Peter Brehm
Helps voters elect candidates that are not far right or far left.

David Schmidt
Ranked choice is a tremendous tool to give more power to the community. Our local city representation has, for a generation, all been from one small neighborhood. This is because the Democratic primary has tremendously low nonparticipant, and the district is so significantly D leaning that only the primary matters. That being said, RCV is very different and could be confusing for voters that have never experienced it before. If passed, we will need a significant community effort to educate and train our residents to ensure their voices are heard.

Scott Lasher
When there is no clear majority, the secondary preferences of the voters become important in the creation of a majority.

Fredy Ventura Garcia
Simplifies primaries and it seems to be working successfully in the places it’s been implemented.

Sarah Irani
Ranked choice voting empowers voters to rank candidates by preference, vote their conscience without fear of “wasting their vote,” and helps third parties gain validity. It’s a step toward breaking down the two-party system and better reflecting the will of the people.

Ryan Trout
I support the implementation of ranked choice voting as a way to strengthen our democracy, give voters more voice and choice, and ensure that elected leaders better reflect the will of the people.

In a time when many people feel disillusioned by politics and discouraged by division, ranked choice voting offers a hopeful reform—one that puts more power in the hands of voters and strengthens the legitimacy of our elections. It’s a common sense improvement to our democratic process.

Ranked choice voting is a simple which can have powerful benefits. It ensures that winning candidates have broad support, since a candidate must earn a majority of votes (50% +1) through voters’ rankings. This encourages more positive, issue-focused campaigns, as candidates must appeal to a wider group of constituents—not just their base.

RCV also reduces the impact of “spoiler” candidates and strategic voting. Voters no longer have to worry about wasting their vote on someone they truly believe in. Instead, they can vote their conscience first, knowing their second or third choice will still count if their top pick is eliminated. That means more voices are heard, more candidates with diverse perspectives can run viable campaigns, and voter turnout and satisfaction improve.

Other communities across the country have adopted ranked choice voting leading to more inclusive elections, more civil discourse, and more representative outcomes. Studies also show that RCV increases the diversity of candidates and winners, including more women and people of color.