Ranking is rank

 We New Yorkers have our masks in a twist these days over electoral primaries that for the first time use ranked voting—which means marking our ballots with up to five candidates for, say, mayor, in the order of our preference. I’ve gotten more than one panicky phone call from an early-voting friend at the polls seeking advice on which candidates to prioritize. Frankly, I don’t really know either. I’ve ended up trolling through endorsements from office holders I respect, like AOC. I hope she’s on the ball here.

I know ranked voting is supposed to more truly reflect voters’ desires. But I think there’s a better way. Rank one or two candidates you like or can tolerate, and then negative-rank the ones who turn your stomach. Leave the rest unmarked. That would truly express my feelings. It might mean that someone like Paperboy Love Prince, who’s rapping his speeches and running on a love platform, would become mayor. Given the other clowns on the ballot, there are worse outcomes.


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