Ranked Choice Voting Is A Women’s Issue

In 1916, Jeannette Rankin began her historic run for Congress. Although women had gained the right to vote in Montana two years prior, thanks in large part to Jeannette’s grassroots organizing, most viewed her campaign as ridiculous.

But Jeannette had a strategy that she believed would carry her through.

From Great Falls to Bozeman, Missoula to Miles City, Jeannette would always repeat the phrase, “Vote for your local man and Jeannette Rankin.”

And?

Yes, and.

At the time she ran, Montana was known as an “open state” where all eligible citizens could vote for both of the state’s two congressional seats.

Today, this is known as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in a multi-member congressional district. But Jeannette knew then what political scientists know now: it would work to her advantage.

By using complimentary rather than competitive and additive rather than hostile rhetoric and by campaigning her butt off over the width and breadth of the state - Jeannette was able to win her seat by a mile, coming in second to the incumbent and outpacing third place by over 7,000 votes.

When we talk about the fight for gender equality in politics, we often focus solely on the need for more women in office, stronger reproductive rights protections, and equal pay. But we fail to address the structure of our electoral system itself, a system that can either amplify or stifle women’s voices.

As Jeannette said in her speech at Carnegie Hall just before her first day in Congress in 1917, Jeannette said:

“It is not enough that we should have the vote. We need the means by which the votes are cast.”

She was specifically talking about Ranked Choice Voting, even before women gained the right to vote nationally.

What is Ranked Choice Voting, and why should you care?

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, from first to second, third, and so on. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their voters’ following choices are redistributed. This process continues until a candidate earns a majority of the votes.

The result is a system that promotes majority support, reduces the impact of vote-splitting (no more excuses of “she’ll be a spoiler”), and encourages more civil campaigning. It has already been adopted in parts of the United States, including Maine, Alaska, and numerous cities such as New York and San Francisco.

But beyond procedural efficiency, RCV holds special promise for correcting the long-standing gender imbalance in American political life.

The Gender Gap in American Politics

Despite comprising over half of the U.S. population, women make up less than one-third of Congress. Women of color are even more underrepresented. While recent years have brought historic gains, systemic barriers remain, from institutional bias and financial disadvantages to overt discrimination and threats of harassment.

Traditional winner-take-all voting systems often work against women and other underrepresented candidates in subtle but powerful ways. When multiple candidates from similar ideological backgrounds want to run, it is almost always the woman who is told, “Wait your turn” and “You’ll spoil the election for everyone.” This “spoiler” effect gives entrenched parties an excuse to discourage diverse candidates from running and reinforces the dominance of the political establishment.

How Ranked Choice Voting Levels the Playing Field

RCV can help dismantle these structural barriers in several key ways:

1. Reduces Vote-Splitting Among Women Candidates

In traditional elections, women are often pressured to withdraw from races for fear of splitting the vote, especially when running against other women. RCV removes this zero-sum dynamic by allowing multiple candidates with similar platforms—and women —to run without penalizing one another. Voters can rank several women as their top choices, and candidates can run collaborative campaigns rather than adversarial ones.

This is particularly impactful in local or primary elections, where a crowded field can disadvantage candidates who are not the “default” or establishment choice. With RCV, women no longer have to choose between running for office or helping someone else win; they can do both.

2. Promotes More Civil Campaigning

Because RCV incentivizes candidates to appeal to a broader coalition of voters, including those who may not select them as their first choice, campaigns tend to be less negative. (Remember, “Vote for your local man and Jeannette Rankin.”) At a time when women face an onslaught of personal attacks, sexism, online harassment, toned-down rhetoric, civility, and, you know, common decency is a game changer.

A less combative campaign environment not only encourages more women to run but also benefits democracy by focusing political discourse on policy rather than personal takedowns.

3. Broadens Voter Engagement

RCV fosters a more inclusive electorate by giving voters more meaningful choices. This is especially empowering for women voters, who often see their priorities, such as child care, healthcare, equal pay, and reproductive rights, as issues, in other words, that are marginalized in binary or polarized elections.

By enabling a field of strong, diverse contenders to run and stay in the race without fear of splitting the vote, RCV increases the odds that women voters will see their values reflected on the ballot and ultimately in office.

4. Encourages Grassroots and Nontraditional Candidates

RCV creates room for candidates who may not have traditional political backgrounds or access to major fundraising networks. Historically and currently, these barriers disproportionately affect women, particularly women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women from working-class backgrounds.

By leveling the electoral playing field, RCV enables grassroots candidates to gain traction through broad community support rather than relying solely on major donors or party gatekeepers.

Real-World Evidence

Data from jurisdictions that have adopted RCV supports its pro-woman impact. A study by RepresentWomen found that women and people of color are winning office at higher rates in RCV cities than in those using traditional voting systems.

New York City’s 2021 municipal elections, its first major use of RCV, offer a compelling case study. A record number of women ran for office, and a record number won. In fact, for the first time in the city’s history, a majority of City Council seats are now held by women, including many women of color. Candidates credited RCV with enabling them to build broad coalitions, stay in the race, and compete on a level playing field.

The Broader Implications

The United States is one of the few democracies that still uses a single-round, winner-take-all system for most elections. Globally, countries with more inclusive voting systems tend to have significantly higher representation of women in their legislatures. While RCV is not a cure-all, it’s a damn close one.

As we confront mounting challenges to gender equity—from reproductive rights rollbacks to economic inequality it’s essential to look not only at who is in power but how they get there. If the mechanics of our democracy reinforce the status quo, then no amount of advocacy can fully counterbalance their effect. Reforming the system itself is feminist work.

Supporting Ranked Choice Voting is not just about electoral reform. It’s about justice, access, and the health of our democracy. It’s about recognizing that who gets a seat at the table is shaped by the rules of the game.

As voters, advocates, and leaders, we must work to implement RCV in more cities and states, educate our communities about its benefits, and push back against efforts to maintain outdated systems that disproportionately disadvantage women and marginalized communities.

The fight for gender equity in politics is far from over. But by changing how we vote, we can change who gets elected and, with that, change what is possible.

Sources

RepresentWomen. “The Impact of Ranked Choice Voting on Representation.”

FairVote. “Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting.”

Pew Research. “Women in Leadership: Why It Matters.”