Prop 131 – the full story

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. ( KREX ) — Colorado is home to roughly 4.5 million registered voters who come together to pick positions like governor, congress, attorney general, secretary of state and more.

But a new system will be proposed on the upcoming November ballot – Proposition 131 aims to establish a ranked-choice voting system.

City Councilor Anna Stout tells WesternSlopeNow in this proposed system, a primary ballot with candidates of all parties would go out earlier in the election year for people to vote on.

Then, the top four candidates from the primary vote are put onto the general election ballot.

From there, a new style of ballot will be given to voters that allows them to choose not just their first pick, but also their second, third, and fourth.

Controversy surrounds ranked choice voting for many different reasons – one is the learning curve on how to fill the new ballot out.

Rep. Lauren Boebert says it confuses voters, delays election results and unfairly overburdens election workers.

Co-Chair for Green Party of Colorado Patrick Dillon tells WesternSlopeNow he is in favor of ranked-choice voting, but the two-ballot process where only the top four candidates make it on the general ballot is worse to him than the system we have currently.

House District 54 State Rep. Matt Soper is in favor of Prop 131 since he says under current law, it’s possible a candidate could win with less than 50% of votes. Under ranked choice, it’s impossible to win with less than 50%.

Both Maine and Alaska already have a ranked choice voting system in place.

Alaska state Sen. Cathy Giessel tells WesternSlopeNow her state adopted ranked voting in 2020 and implemented it in the 2022 election not just for the state, but national and presidential positions.

Alaska uses the same system pitched in Prop 131. Giessel says there wasn’t nearly as much confusion as what some, like Boebert, seem to think. Giessel recites an exit poll in 2022 revealed 86% of Alaskans said it was simple to use and 99% of the ballots in 2022 were completed correctly.

In fact, if it does pass, it will go into effect at a state and federal level even later than what was initially predicted ever since Senate Bill 24-210 added a clause stating multiple municipalities in counties of specified sizes must test the ranked voting method first.

Dillon says no matter your view, it’s important to pitch in as your voice matters.

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