Take RCV to Your Precinct Caucus!

 In a recent MinnPost opinion, former state senator John Hottinger and former Minneapolis council member John Cairns tell us why Ranked Choice Voting is an idea whose time has come for Minnesota!

"Our system of electing candidates no longer reflects the realities of our state. The "any winner takes all" approach is a holdover from an era in which there were almost always only two parties on the ballot; it is out of step with the growing diversity of the state."

On February 2, you can help educate voters - and candidates - about how Ranked Choice Voting can reverse this trend and make elections work better in Minnesota.

February 2 is precinct caucus night and the kick off of the 2010 political process.

Local caucuses are grassroots meetings convened by political parties to begin the process of nominating candidates for the 2010 election and shaping the issues the parties work on.

You will have the opportunity to learn about and support a political party, elect delegates to conventions that endorse candidates for public office and discuss issues that matter to you! The DFL and Republican caucuses will also be conducting a non-binding, statewide ‘straw’ ballot for gubernatorial candidates.

There will also be a time to present and vote on resolutions that may become a part of the party platform. Approved resolutions move on to be considered by delegates at local unit and state conventions.

Help educate your party supporters about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) and make it - or keep it - a part of your party's platform.

Click here to download the RCV resolution and introduce it at your precinct caucus!

Pass it on to your friends and family - anywhere in the state - and ask them to take it to their caucus, too.

Caucuses begin at 7:00 PM, registration at 6:30 PM

Click here to find out where your precinct caucus is and here for links to party websites that provide details about their caucuses and pre-caucus trainings.  The Independence Party is also caucusing on line.

If you are attending a DFL caucus, there is an effort to renew RCV in the party Action Agenda (first adopted in 2008), which requires passing RCV resolutions at precinct caucuses across the state. If you are caucusing with the Independence or Green Party, RCV is in the ongoing platforms, but it's important to introduce the resolution to educate new comers and keep RCV updated in the platform. If you are caucusing GOP, introduce the resolution at your caucus and build support to make RCV a part of the party platform.

GO BEYOND YOUR PRECINCT CAUCUS!

• Become a delegate to your district or county convention (Feb - Apr) to support RCV resolutions at these conventions.  Go to your party website to find out when and where your local unit convention is being held.

•  If you don't become a delegate to your convention, VOLUNTEER with us to help educate voters at your convention (or another one).
  

• Attend gubernatorial and legislative candidate forums, let candidates know about Ranked Choice Voting and ask for their support. Get candidates talking about Ranked Choice Voting! 

• Many gubernatorial and legislative candidates already support RCV (click here to see list). Contact the candidates, thank them if they support RCV and urge those who have not taken a position to support it. Contact us if you learn that a candidate is a supporter!
  

• Become a delegate to your state convention to support your candidate and RCV. Those scheduled thus far are:
  • DFL - April 23-April 25 in Duluth
    
  • GOP - April 29-May 1 in Minneapolis
    

• If you do not become a delegate to your state convention, sign up to volunteer for RCV at the state convention.  Contact us for details.

FFI: info@fairvotemn.org.