'Majority Rules' documentary studies ranked-choice voting

If ranked-choice voting becomes a reality in Washington state, you can thank former La Conner resident Kit Muehlman.

Muehlman, who raised children, made pottery and taught yoga in greater La Conner for 42 years before moving to Bellingham in 2016, is spreading the word about this system of voting, now used by 60 U.S. cities and the states of Maine and Alaska. Ireland and Australia have been using ranked-choice voting for over a century. A proposal to use ranked-choice voting is on the ballot in Oregon this fall.

Under this system, when a race has more than two candidates, voters are able to rank candidates rather than choose one political party over another. “You choose your first choice, then your second choice and so on,” explains Muehlman. “If your first choice candidate comes in last, that candidate is eliminated and your vote goes to your next choice. The lowest candidates are eliminated until one candidate gets more than half the vote.”

She believes electing candidates acceptable to a majority of voters can help reduce polarization and increase good government because people will feel more heard and act out less. “It could really shift things in a more functional, productive direction.”

Through Fair Vote Washington, Muehlman uses talents developed while an art educator at the Museum of Northwest Art to educate voters about the system and its advantages.

She is one of the reasons the Lincoln Theatre is showing “Majority Rules” on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. This political documentary explores the 2022 special election held in Alaska when Representative Don Young died unexpectedly after 49 years in office.

While Alaskan voters had adopted ranked-choice voting, Young’s death meant they needed to test the new system months earlier than expected.

“As dozens of candidates – including former Governor Sarah Palin – jump into the race for the highly coveted seat,” the film’s website states, “everyone must learn how these new voting reforms will change the rules of campaigning and winning. The surprising outcome in that special election leads to a groundswell of support for election reform in other states and fierce pushback from political parties and partisans, just as the Alaska general election gets underway.”

“It’s a really entertaining movie that is helping to bring more understanding of ranked-choice voice to a big audience,” says Muehlman. Fair Vote Washington Executive Director Lisa Ayrault will lead a Q&A after the film.

Muehlman says that state legislators in Maine and Alaska are reporting much more bipartisan cooperation. “They are getting things done,” she says, even though a measure to repeal ranked-choice voting is on Alaska’s ballot this fall. “People who are used to winning elections with less than a majority would like it back to the old way.”

The tense, conflict-ridden political scene used to make Muehlman toss and turn all night. Now she sleeps right through.

The difference is her commitment to this cause.

“I wanted to take some action and it needed to line up with my values. I like peace and harmony and I also like logic, pragmatism and good math. Mathematically our current election method has some big problems,” she says. “It was great and modern 200 years ago but now it’s not.”

Knowing that ranked-choice voting works for all voters, not just one party or candidate, is also reassuring. “I don’t feel like I am campaigning against anyone. That’s important to me,” she explains.

Hope is hard to see, but she encourages others to look for it.

“There’s a lot of work to do in this world and I really think things can be better. Do whatever makes sense to you to make things better. It doesn’t have to be showy or make headlines.”