Iowa Democrats need to push for ranked choice voting

Iowa's unique "first-in-the-nation" caucuses once held substantial sway in national politics. However, this sway has slipped away from Iowa Democrats this election cycle, emphasizing an urgent need for the party to find an alternative means of national political leadership.

This loss is exacerbated by the dire state of Iowa’s larger political climate. Recent election cycles reveal a distressing trend — a severe lack of confidence in the responsiveness of our government to citizens' voices. This dissatisfaction, termed low political efficacy, underscores a glaring disconnect between what Iowans want and what they feel they're getting from their leaders.

The 2020 election cycle showcased this discontent, with 70% of surveyed Iowa voters from both parties yearning for a shake-up in the political system. An overwhelming 90% simply desired leadership that resonated with their needs. This erosion of trust in governance is more than a sentiment; it's a crisis manifesting as polarization, lowered voter turnout, and even acceptance of political violence. The percentage of Americans who accept political violence as a solution has climbed from 15% to 23% in the past two years.

The most effective solution lies in structural change. The existing plurality election format inadvertently hampers fair representation, exacerbates partisan divides, and discourages voter turnout. Enter ranked choice voting. This system allows voters to rank candidates preferentially, ensuring a majority winner. Jurisdictions who have already adopted ranked choice voting have enjoyed increased voter turnout, more civil campaigning, and reduced costs. Although ranked choice voting legislation on the statewide level is likely to remain in subcommittee so long as Republicans retain their sweeping control of the State government, all hope for reform is not lost.

State parties may choose to use ranked choice voting for party elections or nomination processes — a process which has been shown to optimize representation for both Republicans and Democrats. For the Iowa Democratic Party in particular, championing ranked choice voting stands as an opportunity to lead. Adopting ranked choice voting would allow the party to take the first step in revitalizing democracy and restoring faith in the electoral process in the face of slipping influence and violent sentiments among voters. The opportunity to use ranked choice voting on the party’s new Presidential Preference Cards has already passed for this election cycle, but Iowa Democrats can still prioritize legislation on the state level as well as push for the implementation of ranked choice voting in its future party elections and nominations.

Embracing ranked choice voting stands as a pragmatic first step for the Iowa Democratic Party — a chance to demonstrate visionary leadership and rekindle the essence of democracy in the Hawkeye State.

Kaycie Brookens is a student studying political science, policy studies, and American studies at Grinnell Colleg and is involved in leadership for Campus Democrats.