By Scott Graham, former Ward 7 City Council candidate

As a Minneapolis voter, I have gotten used to Ranked Choice Voting. I have become accustomed to voting for my elected leaders in the order of my preference. I’ve never found it challenging nor have I ever spoken to anyone who has. I’ve spoken to people who thought it would be complicated, until they did it and snap! Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Now I have a problem.

Our long-time 61A state representative is retiring and there are three DFL candidates all competing for the seat in the Aug. 13 primary. None of them were endorsed by the DFL party. I have carefully researched the candidates and had conversations with them. One candidate I do not care for at all, one candidate I really like and I am indifferent to the third candidate.

To further complicate matters I am concerned that the candidate I really like will come in third, meaning I may wish to vote for the candidate I am indifferent to in order to not help elect the candidate I dislike.

What a great time to use Ranked Choice Voting. I could vote for the candidate I love but I think might lose, I could cast my second choice for the candidate I am indifferent to and likely not cast a third choice ballot. But with our antiquated “pick one” system I have to make the difficult choice to either vote with my heart or vote to block the candidate I dislike. This frustrates me.

Let’s pass Ranked Choice Voting statewide so voters like me are able to have their cake and eat it too.

Editor's note: People living in District 61A can vote on Aug. 13 for one of three DFL candidates running for the district's House of Representative seat. Interviews with all the candidates are available here.