Some initial results for the New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary are in, and the vote-splitting we see is an all too common, troubling story.

With a crowded field, the declared winner received less than 50% of the vote. That means a majority of voters cast their ballots for someone else. Once again, our current system has produced a nominee who lacks majority support and a clear mandate.

This is Bad for Voters

It means the voices of the majority are effectively silenced. Their preferred candidates may be eliminated, and their second or third choices—which could have built a consensus—are never counted. This fosters disillusionment and can depress turnout in future elections.

This is Bad for the Winner

While they may have won, they move forward without a true majority mandate. They are forced to lead with incomplete data, knowing who their base is but having no insight into the preferences of the majority who voted for other candidates. This makes it harder to build the broad coalition necessary to unite a party or effectively represent a community.

This is Bad for All Candidates

Without ranked-choice voting (RCV), campaigns are forced to divide support among similar voices, and strategic voting often takes precedence over honest choices. Voters are left to guess who has the best chance to win, rather than who best represents their values.

Ranked-Choice Voting Offers a Better Way

This problem is even more common in local races for mayor, town council, or school board. RCV ensures the winning candidate has the support of a true majority by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. The good news is that we can fix this, starting at the local level. By signing our petition, you can help us advocate for legislation that gives municipalities the option to adopt ranked-choice voting.

SIGN THE PETITION

Together, we can ensure our elections produce winners with majority support and restore faith in our democratic process.

Thanks,
Voter Choice NJ