Senator Cathy Osten Co-Chairs Ranked Choice Voting Working Group

Governor Ned Lamont recently established a working group consisting of members representing various political affiliations to explore options and develop a comprehensive legislative proposal to create a system that enables municipalities and political parties in Connecticut with the ability to use ranked-choice voting in caucuses, conventions, primaries, and certain municipal elections!


Read more from Governor Lamont Here


Objective and Mission: To conduct a thorough analysis of RCV's implementation across the United States, drawing insights from both municipalities and states where RCV has been successful. The end goal is to craft a comprehensive legislative proposal that could allow political parties and municipalities the flexibility to adopt Ranked Choice Voting in their caucuses, conventions, primaries, and certain municipal elections. The Working Group will develop a report of recommendations by the end of the year for consideration during the 2025 legislative session.


From CT Voters First:

The first public meeting of Governor Lamont’s Working Group on Ranked Choice Voting was held recently. The meeting was a monumental step towards reshaping our electoral system in Connecticut. Co-chaired by Senator Cathy Osten and Senator Tony Hwang, the group’s diverse membership delved into the potential of RCV to make our elections more fair, inclusive, and representative.

Introductions and Goals:
Co-Chair Sen. Cathy Osten (D) emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach, highlighting the significance of representing diverse communities, including two federally recognized tribal nations.

Co-Chair Sen. Tony Hwang (R) underscored the bipartisan effort to explore RCV's impact and develop a legislative proposal to increase voter engagement. 

Vice Chair Monte Frank, CT Voters First Advisory Council Chair and long-time advocate for democracy reforms, expressed his deep commitment to improving elections in Connecticut. He talked about the importance of the group's work in studying RCV for presidential preference primaries, party primaries, and municipal elections, which he believes will significantly enhance the quality of democracy in Connecticut.

Member Introductions:

Dan Rosenthal, former first selectman of Newtown expressed his passion for finding ways to improve democracy and his gratitude for being part of the group.

Chris Green, Stratford Town Councilman and former state senate candidate, emphasized the need to involve the electorate more deeply and select the most popular candidates.

Rep. Aundré Bumgardner, representing the southeastern corner of the state, highlighted the widespread adoption of RCV in 29 states and the need for Connecticut to explore similar reforms.

Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director of Common Cause in Connecticut noted her organization’s national work on RCV and her appreciation for being part of the working group.

Lindsay Farrell, Senior Political Strategist for the Working Families Party discussed her role in supporting political work from Maine to Arizona and her excitement about contributing to the RCV study.

Patty Spruance, President of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association and Windham Town Clerk expressed her honor at being named to the committee and her interest in exploring how RCV will affect voters.

Annalisa Stravato, Executive Vice President of the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut and Wilton Republican Registrar of Voters highlighted the role of local election officials as "gatekeepers of democracy" and her eagerness to work with the group.

Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut's chief elections officer, praised the formation of the working group and underscored the importance of a comprehensive approach to policy-making. She emphasized that policy should not be based on headlines but on thorough and comprehensive research.

Rep. Hilda Santiago, participating online, mentioned her extensive personal research on RCV and her interest in the diverse opinions and research the task force will bring to light.

Anne Reed, Vice President of Advocacy for the League of Women Voters in Connecticut talked about the League's commitment to increasing voter interest and expanding voting through nonpartisan efforts.

Maly Rosado, Hartford City Councilwoman, expressed her dedication to voter outreach and her eagerness to contribute to the RCV Working Group.

Alexander Russell, UConn Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Voting Technology Research Center highlighted his focus on the complexities of RCV and his commitment to ensuring its effective implementation in Connecticut.


Presentation: Overview of Ranked Choice Voting

Watch the presentation HERE

Deb Otis, Director of Research & Policy at FairVote provided an in-depth overview of RCV and its potential benefits for Connecticut. Her presentation highlighted several key points:

RCV Promotes Majority Winners
RCV ensures that the winning candidate has broad support by allowing voters to rank candidates by preference. This process eliminates the least popular candidates in successive rounds until a majority is achieved. Otis highlighted examples from jurisdictions where RCV has led to more widely accepted election outcomes and fewer contentious runoffs.

RCV Improves Campaign Civility
Candidates are incentivized to run more positive campaigns to gain second-choice votes from their opponents' supporters. This reduces negative campaigning and fosters a more constructive political environment. Otis noted that this shift often leads to campaigns focusing on issues rather than personal attacks, creating a more informed electorate.

RCV Enhances Representation
RCV has been shown to increase the election of women and people of color by reducing vote-splitting and encouraging a more diverse candidate pool. Otis pointed out that this inclusive system allows candidates from underrepresented groups to run without the fear of dividing the vote, leading to broader representation in elected offices.

RCV Maintains Voter Trust and Turnout
RCV does not negatively impact voter trust or turnout. It provides a more representative electoral outcome and can lead to increased voter satisfaction. Otis emphasized that in many cases, voters appreciate the ability to express preferences more fully, which can enhance their engagement with the electoral process.


Learn more at CTVotersfirst.org