It kind of sounds like an odd pairing at first, no? A self-described neo-libertarian and a progressive Democratjoin forces. Yet what they are advocating for is something most people will agree on: We need fairer elections.

Manu Koenig the neo-libertarian and Faisal Fazilat the progressive Democrat are two locals of Santa Cruz, California, who want their city to adopt ranked choice voting. It is reform that theysay has been endorsed byformer President Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, among others.

Its an issue that both sides of the political spectrum can agree onbecause, in the end, every side wants fair elections. Everyone wants it to be democratic, says Fazilat. (Good Times, August 16, 2017)

How does ranked choice voting work? Here is a video that explains it and why advocates support it:

Here are a few things supporters say ranked choice voting can do:

Ranked choice voting would encourage candidates to actually talk about the issues that voters care about. This kind of system favors grassroots campaigns where candidates are going door-to-door. Theyre talking with as many people as they can, saysFaisal Fazilat.

Read more about Manu Koenig and Faisal Fazilat and their grassroots effort to adopt ranked choice voting in Santa Cruz, California here.

Ranked choice voting is currently used in 11 cities, will be used in Memphis starting in 2019, and is the law of the land in Maine for statewide and non-presidential federal elections. Voters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, approved ranked choice voting in 2008, but the city council has yet to implementits use in city elections.

Photo Credit: Steve Heap / shutterstock.com

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A Libertarian and Progressive Agree: This Reform Is Needed to Fix Elections - IVN News