Bipartisan Push to Bring Ranked Choice Voting to Wisconsin

Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

(By Robert D'Andrea, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin could become the third state to elect members of Congress by ranked choice, if a renewed bipartisan push in the Legislature is successful.

According to Robert D'Andrea with Wisconsin Public Radio, the bill would create nonpartisan primaries for U.S. Senate and House races. The five candidates who receive the most votes in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, would advance to a general election where voters would rank their preferences.

The general election would be decided by a series of instant runoffs using voters rankings until one candidate receives a majority. Two Republicans and two Democrats are sponsoring the bill, which they say will allow for more voices in politics, more accountability to voters and less partisan gridlock.

A similar bipartisan bill was introduced in 2021 but was not voted out of the Senate elections committee. Alaska and Maine both elect federal and statewide candidates by ranked choice. The Wisconsin bill would only apply to congressional races.

"It's proven to be a motivator for the elected officials to be more open, to be listening to each other and to their voters and not be so partisan and extreme," said Sen. Jeff Smith, D- Eau Claire.

Wisconsin-based advocacy group Democracy Found has spent five years building support for the plan, which they call Final Five voting. Democracy Found Executive Director Sara Eskrich said the reforms have no inherent benefit to either party. The plan is designed to make legislators more accountable to a wider electorate than normally participates in party primaries, she said.

"Right now, effectively 8 percent of the population is electing over 85 percent of our members of Congress. It makes it really hard for them to operate without constantly worrying about a primary," Eskrich said. "They're constantly looking over their shoulder on their right or on their left, and it makes it really difficult to govern."

Sen. Jesse James, a Republican from Altoona, is one of the bill's co-authors. He said he is already hearing opposition from conservatives calling the proposal "completely a Democrat bill."

"I think this is a voter's bill," he said. James said that in his three campaigns for legislative seats, he was unafraid to campaign for votes in households that at first glance would not likely support a Republican.

"I went beyond just the base.You represent all people in your district and you need to have that discussion with all people regardless of where they stand," he said. The bill would also create openings for candidates lacking major funding and for people outside of the major parties, James said.

"I think it is about opportunity," James said. "Our Founding Fathers did not have the intent of having a two party system in our nation." Wisconsin’s minor parties gave the bill mixed reviews.

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