RCV candidate video clip

[Rachel MacNair]

At the bottom of this message is the video from a Zoom candidate forum, March 21, 2023. Eric Wesson says RCV was the most popular question submitted by the public and explains what it is. Then 2nd district at-large candidate Jenay Manley explains why it's important. (If the video doesn't work in your email, it's also up on our candidates page)

As you can see from our page on candidate stances, seven of the twelve districts have at least one strong RCV proponent; some have more, and others have people who may not be strong but will still vote yes. 

Voting is next Tuesday! We need as many people as we can to help build the yes vote with this crowd of people that are the most likely to vote for RCV. We mainly leaflet them coming out, not going in, since we're not trying to influence their vote that day, but educate them on something they'll vote on later. We find people quite amenable that way. 

If you can do a lot or a little, please contact me about what polling place you'd like or have me assign you one. 

-- Rachel MacNair

Voice and text: 816-753-2057

in...@betterballotkc.org

 Snippet Video.mp4

[Rachel MacNair]

Friends --

The current forecast for next Tuesday is low of 55 degrees, high of 83. That's just about perfect for having a pleasant time leafleting the voters coming out of the polling places. 

But a 40% chance of rain. That means more of a chance it won't than that it will, and it could be in the wee hours of the morning or in the evening after we finish, or just five minutes at a good time to take a break anyway. Last year at the April election, it was beautiful all day until 5 PM, then started raining, so we got plenty done  all day until people went home in the evening. 

Please, if you need a handful of cards to leaflet just a little when you go vote, or a good lot of cards to leaflet all day, or anything in between, please give me a call. I have the list of polls and who's going to be where when, so you can get the poll you want, or one close by you, by giving me a call. It's now too late to mail any cards, but they can easily be picked up from the table on my front porch any time, whether I'm there or not. 

-- Rachel MacNair

Front Porch: 811 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. 

(parking is best on the north side of Campbell)

Voice and text: 816-753-2057

rac...@betterballotkc.org

[in...@betterballotkc.org]

Friends --

If you're yet to vote and need info on candidates, we have it at Better Ballot KC - Candidate Stances on RCV. On Wednesday, we expect to update that page to reflect who won. I expect to also send out an email report saying where we are now on ranked choice voting for Kansas City Missouri because of who won the primary. 

We'll also have the highest concentration of people known to be the kind of KCMO voters who turn out in elections of this kind, which means the people we most need to reach to build the yes vote for when we get to vote for ranked choice voting. We can also diminish the power of any no-vote organizing before it even starts. 

Anyone who decides at the last minute to help leaflet, from a handful to a bunch, can get them on election day at these two locations: 

front porch table: 811 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. 

(parking is best on the north side of Campbell)

Available 24/7

Brush Creek Community Center

3801 Cleaver II Blvd. 

From about 7:30 to 5 PM 

That's where I'll be leafletting so you can pick up a set from me there; this is what I look like: 

The current forecast for is a low of 50 degrees, high of 84, so a very pleasant day mostly. But windy. That's a nuisance when we have lit tables with a spread of many papers, but shouldn't be a problem for holding leaflets and passing them to people as they come out. But being windy does mean I'm not bringing my large sign. 

Remember: the rule is to be at least 25 feet from the door, and the preference is for handing them the card when they come out since that distinguishes us from the people trying to influence their vote going in. 

Do feel free to contact me if need be, but remember that I'm out leafleting and so only as available as that allows for. 

-- Rachel MacNair

Voice and text: 816-753-2057

rac...@betterballotkc.org

Front and back of the card we're passing out: 

[Rachel MacNair]

We had about 40 people who spent several hours distributing literature at the polls yesterday, which may well put us in the top tier of polling place coverage by electioneers. A big shout-out to Vote16MO for supplying so many of those people. 

We expect to update the candidate web page later today, with the basic facts for the public. But for our  supporters, we offer further commentary

Report on April 4 Primary Election

Mayor

Quinton Lucas got 87.4% of the vote. If we had RCV now, he clearly won. Under current rules, however, he has to run again for another election against the same opponent. Which will probably turn out roughly the same. 

Council District 1 At Large

Kevin O'Neill, incumbent, got 72.5% of the vote

If we had RCV now, he's won and we'd be done. But under current rules, he has to run against Ronda Smith in the June 20 election. 

He's been a long-time supporter of RCV, saying he'll co-sponsor the bill as long as there are enough other co-sponsors. Ronda Smith hasn't yet formed a position. 

Council District 1 

Nathan Willet got 67.6% of the vote but must still do a re-run of the race with Chris Gahagan. We don't yet have positions from either one on RCV.  

Council District 2 At Large

Jenay Manley and Lindsay French both did well, and Mickey Younghanz is no longer in the running. This is an excellent outcome for RCV: both Manley and French support it with some enthusiasm. 

Council District 2

Wesley Rogers is running unopposed. Twice. 

Council District 3 At Large

Melissa Patterson Hazley won 63% of the vote in a 2-person race with incumbent Brad Ellington. Ellington has told us he's "not opposed" to RCV, and Hazley has yet to form a position. They both run again on June 20. 

Council District 3

Incumbent Melissa Robinson, who favors RCV, got 84% of the vote. Nevertheless, she still has to run again against the same opponent, Sheri Hall, for the next eleven weeks. 

Council District 4 At Large

This open seat with 5 candidates is a prime case of a race that would benefit from RCV. Crispin Rea, who has yet to form a position on RCV, got 47% of the vote. The runner-up was Justin Short, who is an enthusiastic supporter of RCV. 

Council District 4

Incumbent Eric Bunch got 60% of the vote in his three-way race. He'll be facing off with Henry Rizzo. Bunch is a long-time enthusiastic supporter of RCV. Rizzo has also told us he supports RCV. 

Council District 5 At Large

This race is now down to Michael Kelley and Darrel Curls. Kelley has shown over and over again that he's enthusiastic about RCV. Curls has yet to form a position. 

Council District 5

Incumbent Ryana Parks-Shaw is running unopposed. Twice. 

Council District 6 At Large

Incumbent Andrea Bough got 71.3% of the vote. Nevertheless, because we don't have RCV, she has to run against Jill Sasse. Neither have formed a position on RCV, though of course we've had much discussion with Bough. 

Council District 6

Another 5-way race for an open seat, the top two are Johnathan Duncan and Dan Tarwater. Duncan supports RCV. Tarwater has yet to form a position.  

Summary for RCV in the Races

Settled because candidate is running unopposed: 

District 1, Wesley Rogers

District 5, Ryana Parks-Shaw

Incumbent did very strongly and will almost undoubtedly win:

District 1 at large, Kevin O'Neill (strong RCV supporter)

District 3, Melissa Robinson (strong RCV supporter)

District 6 at large, Andrea Bough 

Races in which either candidate winning will be an RCV supporter:

District 2 at large, Jenay Manley and Lindsey French

District 4, Eric Bunch and Henry Rizzo. (Bunch is the incumbent, got 60%, and is a long-time supporter)

Races where an enthusiastic RCV supporter is running against someone without a formed opinion yet:

District 4 at large, Justin Short vs. Crispin Rea

District 5 at large, Michael Kelley vs. Darrell Curls

District 6, Johnathan Duncan vs. Dan Tarwater

The remaining two races (District 1 and District 3 at large) are up in the air as to RCV outcome. 

The only candidate who ever said anything negative about RCV ("no fan") is no longer in the running.  Therefore, we still have a plausible best-case scenario of 12 yes votes for RCV, and a very high probability of a solid majority. 

[Rachel MacNair]

Friends - 

Correction: In the report below that I sent out earlier, percentages were calculated from the Kansas City Election Board website without taking into account that they don't cover districts 1 and 2. So most percentages in the at-large races are actually a little lower. The conclusion that someone won and won strongly remains the same, so you have the same take-aways. Just use media reports rather than this report if citing actual figures. 

-- Rachel 

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[in...@betterballotkc.org]

Friends -- 

We didn't get advance notice, but a KCMO council member aide told us this afternoon that the first meeting of the Charter Review Commission will be at 5 PM on Tuesday, April 11. That's just a matter of hours from now, but they do give an opportunity to make our voices heard about including Ranked Choice Voting as one of the proposals they consider: 

"Those who wish to comment on proposed ordinances can email written testimony to public.t...@kcmo.org. Comments received will be distributed to the committee and added to the public record by the clerk."

We plan to have a couple of people attend in person. Here's the info for those who want to watch on Zoom: 

Public Observance of Meeting

Applicants and citizens wishing to participate have the option of attending each meeting or they may do so through the videoconference platform ZOOM, using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83012213040

-- Rachel MacNair

for Better Ballot KC

Voice and text: 816-753-2057

[Rachel MacNair]

Friends -- 

I am so very delighted to report that our thinking was mistaken, when we thought the Charter Review Commission route would take longer than getting the upcoming new Council to put ranked choice voting on the ballot. When the Charter Review Commission met ten years ago, it started well after the general city election and took four months. But this year's commission doesn't have to go by how they did it ten years ago. They have to go by what the mayor says now. And the mayor tells them to be done by the second week of May, so that their recommended changes can go to the Council in time for them to make a decision by May 25 - enough time to get it on the August 8, 2023 ballot! 

Larry Bradley and I were at their first orientation meeting last night. We were the only general-public members of the audience, and they were pleased at the end to let us give our comments. So we were able to acquaint them with the fact that one proposed charter change had a whole petition drive that garnered enough signatures that would have put it on the ballot if it were an ordinance rather than a charter change, plus other pertinent points. We were able to chat with them afterwards and gave all but one of them our card with our web address on it. The one who didn't take the card already had about ten cards at home. We definitely have a good start. 

Several of us had given short written testimony in advance, as per invitation, and that includes a copy of the proposed wording change to put RCV on the ballot.  The more the merrier on this, so if you still want to submit anything, they say "Those who wish to comment on proposed ordinances can email written testimony to public.t...@kcmo.org. Comments received will be distributed to the committee and added to the public record by the clerk."

Given that they have such a short time to get the work done, the public comment hearing for RCV may be something we get short notice for. That's fine for content; we have plenty of good comment to give them already prepared. But the more people that show up to support RCV, the better. We'll let you know as soon as we do. 

[in...@betterballotkc.org]

Friends -- 

They gave us short notice, but tonight's the night they're covering the ranked choice voting proposal at the city's Charter Review Commission. The meeting starts at 5 PM. We're Agenda Item 4, and we're listed as experts to discuss RCV after election authorities (if available). We've been given "5-10 minutes" and responded that we would be prepared to make the best use of ten minutes. Larry Bradley will give the basics on why RCV is important, and then I will give the evidence that citizens clearly want this with our exit surveys and petition drive. 

Following that is "public comment." And we do know from last week's meeting that they'll take public comment over Zoom: Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video an...

Those who have time to dash over in person, it's on the 10th floor:

City Hall 414 E 12th St., 10th Committee Room 

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 5:00 PM

Those who'd prefer to do written testimony (either instead of or in addition): 

public.t...@kcmo.org

The clerk copies it and sends it to all nine commissioners. 

Among those of us who have submitted is Michael Kelly, candidate for city council district 5 at large.  

This is shorter notice than we hoped for, but it has a definite upside - if we can get on the August 8 ballot, then for now that's ideal for so many reasons. 

[in...@betterballotkc.org]

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[Rachel MacNair]

Friends -- 

The Charter Review Commission focused on elections and there were some good proposals. The two that concern us are:

* Moving the city elections from April/June in odd years to August/November in even years (presidential years), proposed by the mayor; and

* Ranked choice voting for the city. 

Several election officials showed up to testify because they were exercised about that first one. They thought it would make the ballot unwieldy, and they explained problems in detail. 

But those who run elections have always been the people most displeased about the idea that there's anything wrong with how elections are run now. And they have discomfort because, while the rest of us rank the ballot and go home, they have to get used to a new set of procedures on how to do their jobs. Going to election clerks' conferences and talking to them face-to-face has been one of our projects, and we were able to talk with these ones during a break yesterday. Several gave me their email addresses for the purpose of getting more technical information that would be of more interest to them than to the rest of us. 

But they did say some negative things about RCV, and I did sense there was some confusion as the above two issues were mixed up. The complication of the ballot would be bad enough if city races were added to federal races in the same election, but the complication would be all the more if the city races used ranking. 

We have various plans for continuing to educate the commission, but in the mean time, anyone who wants to submit written testimony - usually, just one to three paragraphs - can help boost our case: 

by email to: public.t...@kcmo.org

An online form is at  the bottom of:

https://www.kcmo.gov/programs-initiatives/charter-review-commission

[Rachel MacNair]

Friends -- 

We've now added a new page to our website that includes some of the written testimony we've submitted to the City Charter Review Commission. What points do you see missing there that you'd like to make? Information on how to submit written testimony below. 

Better Ballot KC - 2023 Charter Review Commission

Better Ballot KC - 2023 Charter Review Commission Better Ballot KC RCV proposal for KC to use ranked choice voting in Municipal elections is an amendment to the c...

by email to: public.t...@kcmo.org

An online form is at the bottom of:

https://www.kcmo.gov/programs-initiatives/charter-review-commission

There will be another public meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday), but no particular reason to think they're covering RCV and no earthly reason to assume they aren't. At least one of us will be there in case there are questions to be answered.