Louisiana Curbs Controversial Ranked-Choice Voting
The Republican stronghold in Louisiana has once again showcased its commitment to electoral clarity and simplicity. On Wednesday, the Louisiana state Senate forwarded a groundbreaking bill that stands firmly against the complexities and controversy surrounding ranked-choice voting (RCV), ensuring the sanctity of the traditional voting system remains intact.
Senate Bill 101, chiefly authored by state Sen. Blake Miguez (R), received strong support, passing with a 29-9 vote. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of RCV or “instant runoff” voting methods for any electoral position within the state, albeit allowing an exception for absentee military and overseas voters under federal law.
Louisiana Republicans Pass Bill Ensuring Ranked-Choice Voting Can’t Disenfranchise Voters https://t.co/U6wgh9ji39 via @FDRLST
— Chris 🇺🇸 (@Chris_1791) March 20, 2024
The mechanics of RCV, wherein voters list candidates by preference, has stirred significant controversy. If no candidate secures more than half of the first-choice votes, the election sees the elimination of the least favored candidate, and their votes are redistributed. This process repeats until a majority is achieved. Critics argue this method convolutes the electoral process and undermines the foundational principle of “one person, one vote.”
Miguez highlighted the adverse effects of RCV, citing instances from other states where it has led to confusion, inaccuracies, and a significant number of discarded ballots — incidents that Louisiana seeks to avoid. He emphasized that the bill aims to preserve the integrity and simplicity of the voting process, reflecting true American values.
WATCH: State Senator and founding @LAFreedomCaucus Chairman @BlakeMiguezLA perfectly explains to a Democrat why Ranked Choice Voting is bad for Louisiana.
His bill to ban RCV later passed the Senate. pic.twitter.com/N9IZWUwYeK
— State Freedom Caucus Network (@SFC_Network) March 20, 2024
Secretary of State Nancy Landry supported the bill, emphasizing the cumbersome nature of RCV. She said the convoluted and inefficient system is especially challenged in elections with multiple candidates.
Critics of RCV often cite the high incidence of “ballot exhaustion,” where ballots are disregarded if they do not express a preference beyond the first choice. The system led to confusing results in Alaska’s 2022 special congressional election and Maine’s 2018 congressional race. In those contests, thousands of votes were nullified through exhaustion, canceling out a substantial number of votes entirely.
Louisiana’s decision to avoid RCV is part of a broader conservative critique against unnecessary complications in election procedures which effectively disenfranchise voters by hiding the direct impact of their vote.
Every American should be confident that their vote for their candidate of choice is clear, straightforward and decisively counted.