Minnetonka rejects ranked choice voting repeal
On Tuesday, voters in Minnetonka, Minnesota overwhelmingly rejected a measure to repeal ranked choice voting (RCV). Their decision follows the city’s first use of RCV in 2021, which had high turnout and more candidates than ever before for a Minnetonka city council race. The city also successfully used RCV in Tuesday’s elections, and voter turnout increased again by 50% over similar cycles.
Opponents of reform placed the ranked choice voting repeal measure on the ballot despite RCV’s popularity in the city: 54.7% of Minnetonkans voted to adopt RCV in 2020, and an even larger share (58.6%) voted to keep it this time. RCV won in every precinct in the city. When voters use RCV, they like it.
Minnetonka is one of five Minnesota cities that have embraced RCV – including the state’s largest city (Minneapolis) and capital (Saint Paul). The voting method is popular with Minnesota voters and elected officials alike. Just this year, the legislature passed a bill to study possible expansion of RCV, and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law.
Ranked choice voting pushes candidates to speak to all voters and helps ensure that all voices are heard. It makes our democracy stronger. That’s why I’ve been a proud supporter of RCV for many years.
– Gov. Tim Walz
Congratulations to Minnetonka voters for defeating the effort to repeal ranked choice voting, and thanks to FairVote Minnesota for championing RCV across the state! We can’t wait to see which cities adopt it next!
