Prop 131 for representation that truly reflects Colorado’s diversity | OPINION | Opinion

Who Does Proposition 131 Really Help? Everyone of course, but we’ll explain why in more detail in a moment.

As you might imagine, there is more to the proposed election reform than an overly simple hypothetical targeting high-profile campaign supporters or attempts to discredit the measure through a former candidate’s “worrisome” election results.

Will Prop 131 take the big money out of politics? No, because while campaign finance reform is a laudable goal in itself, change will not happen on its own. Colorado first needs civic-minded leaders who will advocate for the communities they represent. And these leaders should come from the pragmatic and vibrant communities that have historically been left out due to the influence of outside money and insider politics.

Open primaries and ranked choice voting (RCV), the key reforms offered by Prop 131, have been shown to benefit non-incumbent candidates and candidates from underserved communities. More importantly, it would give voters a broader selection of candidates in every election, which has led to meaningful, positive results in communities where similar measures have already been implemented.

The bottom line is that Prop 131 will help all Colorado voters, including those in underserved communities of color, by making elections more competitive and fair.

Critics argue that our independent redistricting commission should have created more politically competitive districts. But the constitutional requirements to keep provincial and municipal jurisdictions as full as possible, combined with the fact that many of us now live with people with like-minded views (a demographic shift that political geographers call the “Big Sort”), makes this is practically impossible. impossible.

Stay informed: Sign up for daily opinion in your inbox Monday through Friday

As a result, we are left with a system in which only 13% of voters in 2022 cast meaningful votes (i.e., one vote cast in competitive elections not predetermined by party affiliation alone) in statehouse races and 18% in statehouse races in Congress. because more than two-thirds of races were decided in low-turnout primaries.

Prop 131 aims to solve this problem by strengthening our democratic system, which is currently undermined by chronic polarization and relentless partisanship. Field implementation in more than sixty voting jurisdictions across the country has shown that nonpartisan open primaries and ranked-choice general elections play a critical role in correcting many of the existing flaws in our election system that the establishment is unwilling to acknowledge – such as barriers to entry for traditionally marginalized candidates such as women, blacks, or candidates from other racial or ethnic backgrounds.

This is best demonstrated by the successful outcome of the New York City electoral process in 2021. By including RCV in the municipal primaries that spring, women, and especially women of color, were able to participate and win in record numbers. As a result, in November, for the first time in history, women of color were elected to a majority of seats on the New York City Council—a milestone worth celebrating, rather than something to be vaguely “worried about.”

There’s no good reason to believe the same thing can’t happen in Colorado. Examples of the positive effects of ranked voting are plentiful, and to say the least one study found that hiring RCV was associated with an estimated 9-point increase in the percentage of candidates from racial or ethnic minority groups.

Prop 131 provides an additional step forward in the collective project we call democracy by reducing barriers to entry for candidates through an open primary that advances the top four candidates to the general election, regardless of political party. Instead of being told to “wait your turn” while political parties push a more “viable” candidate, this system helps level the playing field for each candidate to enter and win in the primaries on their own terms. In fact, promoting candidates who have the skills to build broad coalitions and promote consensus is exactly what this proposal aims to do.

Concerns that this form of immediate runoff election will disenfranchise minorities are exaggerated. The Institute for Mathematics and Democracy has revealed “serious methodological and analytical flaws” in the limited research citing concerns about ranked-choice voting. Meanwhile, if MIT’s Election Science and Data Lab noticed this Just last year: “There is an extensive body of literature supporting the idea that (ranked choice voting) increases the representation of marginalized gender and racial groups.”

That’s the point. By achieving more accurate representation, more communities of color will have a seat at the decision-making table. Through their representatives, these communities can voice their concerns, issues, ideas and desires, leading to more inclusive, innovative and equitable legislation. The voters in those districts understand that, and condescending attempts to portray them as confused or more easily manipulated are downright insulting.

Ranked choice voting takes more into account a voter’s opinion when determining the winners. But don’t confuse political expressions with voter confusion. Not every voter will rank every candidate in every election. How voters choose to fill out – or not fill out – their ballot is ultimately up to them.

Whether you are a candidate or a voter, Prop 131 gives everyone an opportunity that doesn’t currently exist: a chance to participate in a way that truly reflects Colorado’s diversity, and know that your opinion matters.

Let’s take this election’s opportunity to end the charade of equality put forward by the establishment and build a better system that works for all Coloradans by voting “Yes” on Prop 131.

Carlos Perez of Colorado Springs is an unaffiliated voter and software engineer. He served on the inaugural Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission in 2021. Terrance Carroll of Denver served as Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African American to hold the position.