Our film highlights the struggle to open up our political system to improve fairness. RCV strengthens voters’ voices, particularly from minority and third-party constituencies. Directed by a woman of color, this film shows how RCV increases representation of women and minorities in elected office.

Is our democracy broken?
Most Americans agree that our political systems are failing us. Despite sharing many values, we’re forced to pick a side or vote for the lesser of two evils from parties that neglect our interests. The result is a system that polarizes the public and rewards negative campaigning.

 

Who can fix it?
Dissatisfied citizens nationwide are clamoring for free and fair elections through Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), a simple but powerful reform where voters rank their candidates in order of preference. Cities and towns that have enacted the reform see increased voter turnout, improved voter satisfaction, higher representation of women, minority and third-party candidates, and less mudslinging.

 

Scotty Vercoe, a musician and activist deeply involved in the RCV movement, has teamed up with veteran documentary filmmaker Julie Mallozzi to tell this dramatic story of a few committed individuals starting a spark that is taking off across the nation. Since 2000, more than a dozen locales have enacted RCV – and now the flame is spreading across the entire state of Maine.

 

 

One state takes a historic step. Let's make some noise.
Our story unfolds as voters in Maine fight to make their state the first in the nation to enact Ranked Choice Voting statewide. Frustrated after decades of electing governors without a majority, Maine’s citizens approved a ballot measure in November 2016 to use RCV for all federal and state elections. But legislators effectively killed the bill, claiming it was unconstitutional. As one RCV advocate put it, “When people come to power under a particular system and understand how to win in a particular system, they are loathe to change it.”

 

Fortunately, the people of Maine have final say through a process called the People’s Veto. The film follows their scrappy campaign to collect over 60,000 signatures in 90 days during a brutal Maine winter. We shadow leaders of the movement, activists on the ground, doubtful legislators and those tasked with implementing the reform as they do battle in the streets, the Statehouse, the courts and back again.

 

 

Voters need it, but don't realize it. Let’s spread the word.
Amid the din of the 2016 election, Maine’s unlikely story of Ranked Choice Voting largely flew under the national news radar. Because of the ballot measure, most Maine voters are at least aware of the reform. However, many Americans have never considered that the way they vote could be part of the problem. This film will help educate the public on the problems with our current plurality voting and spread the word about Ranked Choice Voting.

 

The Battle for Ranked Choice Voting puts Maine's story in the context of America's 100-year flirtation with RCV – including the breaking of Tammany Hall's grip on power in New York City, the election of some of the country's first Black politicians, and a backlash steeped in racism and the Red Scare. Enlivened with colorful hand-drawn animation, pointed archival footage and an original score, the film drops in on cities like Memphis, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Santa Fe that have adopted Ranked Choice Voting, and takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of non-plurality voting systems dominant throughout the world.

 

We’re pretty far along, but we need your help.
Much of the footage has already been shot, but there’s lots to be done. We’ll be filming more interviews and covering Maine’s historic primary in June. Then, we’ll start the larger tasks of editing the film, composing and recording a soundtrack, and doing color-correction and the sound mix.

 

Help us, help the movement.
Maine’s battle for fair elections has deeply motivated blossoming RCV movements in states like Massachusetts, Minnesota and Virginia. Despite huge hurdles, Mainers never gave up in their fight for fair elections. Their inspiring story as told in this film will serve as part of a viral campaign for RCV nationwide, going beyond legal precedent to tell the personal stories of those fighting this battle. For maximum impact, the film’s release is scheduled during the fall 2018 election season when voting is on the public’s mind.

 

 

Make a tax-deductible donation today through the non-profit Center for Independent Documentary.

 

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THANK YOU!!!