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Millions under threat of strong tornadoes and violent winds as storm danger increases Friday; Expanded Clean Slate laws in NC, US could improve public safety; TX farmers and ranchers benefit from federal conservation funds; Head Start supports WA parents, celebrates 60 years.

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Omaha elects its first Black mayor, U.S. Supreme Court considers whether lower courts can prevent Trump administration's removal of birthright citizenship, and half of states consider their own citizenship requirements for voter registration.

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New Mexico's acequia irrigation system is a model of democratic governance, buying a house in rural America will get harder under the Trump administration's draft 2026 budget, and physicians and medical clinics serving rural America are becoming a rarity.

Oregon could opt for ranked-choice voting this November

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Tuesday, October 22, 2024   

This November, Oregon could join a growing number of states switching to ranked-choice voting for federal and state elections.

Measure 117 would allow Oregonians to rank candidates by preference rather than choosing just one and ensure the winner gets more than 50% of the vote.

Blair Bobier, co-founder of the group Oregon Ranked Choice Voting, said it would make each ballot more powerful and campaigns more inclusive.

"I support it because it gives people more voice and more choices," Bobier stated. "Candidates have to campaign to a broader section of the community, rather than just focus on a very narrow band of ardent supporters."

Critics of ranked-choice voting have argued it is expensive and complex ballots could lead to errors. In Oregon, the city of Corvallis, as well as Benton County, have been using ranked-choice voting for a few years and Bobier pointed out that voters like it better and find it easy to use.

Melanie Billings-Yun, a member of the League of Women Voters of Oregon, said the system is trustworthy, based on three studies the organization has done on election reforms.

"Ranked-choice voting has been tested throughout all the nation, and has been shown to be just as accurate as any form of voting," Billings-Yun explained.

Bobier added ranked-choice voting leads to more diversity among elected officials. He noted when San Francisco started using a ranked-choice system in 2004, voters elected the most diverse board of supervisors in the city's history.

"We definitely see in places that use ranked-choice voting that more women and more people of color are elected, compared to the traditional 'pick one' elections," Bobier emphasized.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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