Monte Frank, chair of CT Voters First publishes editorial in the CT Post (12/8/25) on electoral reform.....

As the Supreme Court once again weighs the scope of the Voting Rights Act, I can’t help but reflect on how fragile our democracy has become — and how essential it is that we not only protect the right to vote, butalso make that right more meaningful. We must preserve access to the ballot and ensure that every vote truly counts — that it helps elect leaders who represent broad majorities and encourages more people to participate. That is why reforms such as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) are not just timely; they’re necessary.

The Voting Rights Act has been one of the most important democratic safeguards in American history. It was born from the struggle to prohibit racial discrimination in voting and open the doors for participation in our democratic process. But over time, legal challenges and congressional inaction have chipped away at its protections. While the Supreme Court revisits what remains of the Act, we should also recognize that the health of our republic depends not only on who can vote, but on how well our elections reflect a majority of constituents.

That’s where Ranked Choice Voting comes in. RCV strengthens democracy by giving voters more choice and voice. It allows us to rank candidates in order of preference, eliminating the fear of “wasting” a vote on a less conventional candidate. The winner must have majority support — not just the backing of a narrow, energized base — which leads to more representative outcomes and more legitimate leaders.

The data is clear: RCV increases participation and engagement, particularly among communities too often marginalized. A University of Utah study found that during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, ranked-choice ballots increased enthusiasm among minority voters, who were more likely to use all their rankings. “They used second choice, third choice, fourth, fifth even beyond,” said Baodong Liu, the study’s author. In other words, RCV didn’t just make voting possible — it made it meaningful.

Similarly, analysis by FairVote found that voters of color tend to rank more candidates than white voters. That suggests RCV helps expand representation and engagement among those whose voices have historically been muted in our political system. Research from Eamon McGinn of the University of Technology Sydney found that RCV increased turnout by nearly 10 percentage points in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area — with the biggest gains in lower income precincts. That’s measurable progress in making democracy more inclusive.

But the benefits don’t stop there. RCV reduces polarization by incentivizing candidates to appeal beyond their base. It rewards coalition-building and civility over division and demagoguery. Candidates are encouraged to seek second-choice votes — to listen, not just shout. Imagine how different our politics could look if more leaders had to appeal to a majority of voters.

As someone who ran for office in Connecticut as an independent, I’ve seen how our current winner-take-all system discourages independent voices and reinforces the false binary of red versus blue. RCV breaks that gridlock. It levels the playing field for independents and third-party candidates, allowing voters to support their genuine first choice without fear of “throwing away” their vote. That’s a reform that should appeal to every American who believes ideas — not party labels — should drive our politics.

At the same time, we should open primaries to all voters. Connecticut’s largest voting bloc (42.38%) — unaffiliated voters — cannot participate in primary elections that often determine which candidates appear on the general election ballot. Moving to open primaries would give all voters a meaningful voice in shaping the choices before them in November. Combined with RCV, open primaries would expand participation, reduce polarization, and ensure that candidates appeal to a broader cross-section of the electorate. These are simple reforms that would pay immediate dividends.

At its core, democracy is about trust: trust that our votes matter, that our leaders represent us, and that our system can evolve to meet new challenges. Protecting the Voting Rights Act is critical. But so too is modernizing how we vote to ensure that our public servants represent the broader community.

As the Supreme Court considers the future of the Voting Rights Act, states such as Connecticut should take their own steps to strengthen democracy from the ground up. Opening primaries and adopting Ranked Choice Voting would signal seriousness about inclusion, representation, and majority rule. It would remind voters that their voices matter — all their voices, not just the loudest ones.

Democracy isn’t a static inheritance. It’s something we build, protect, and improve — together. The Voting Rights Act opened the door. Open primaries and Ranked Choice Voting can help us walk through it, toward a future where every vote counts and every election reflects the will of we the people.

Monte Frank is chair of CT Voters First and ran as an independent candidate for lieutenant governor.