Deschutes County Republican Central Committee

Resolution of the Deschutes County Republicans Opposing Ranked Choice Voting 
aka Star Voting/Equal Voting

WHEREAS, The mission of the Republican Party is to act as the party of liberty, equality, opportunity for all and of favoritism for none. We encourage and allow for the broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all levels, ensuring that the Republican Party is open and accessible to all Americans;

WHEREAS, States and communities where ranked choice voting has been tested have consistently seen a decrease in voter participation in those communities, and in many cases, the elections have resulted in more discarded votes than counted votes;

WHEREAS, Ranked choice voting often results in additional tabulation delays, resulting in days or weeks of additional counting while depending exclusively on technology without traceable ballots to support determined winners;

WHEREAS, The implementation of ranked choice voting requires significant financial investment in new voting machines, voter education, and administrative costs, which could be allocated to other critical needs within the community;

WHEREAS, The potential for "gaming" the system through strategic voting and the complexity of understanding ranked choice voting outcomes can erode trust in the electoral process and diminish the perceived legitimacy of election results;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Deschutes County Republicans formally oppose the adoption of ranked choice voting within Deschutes County, the State of Oregon, and across the United States due to concerns regarding its complexity, potential to confuse voters, financial costs, questionable impact on electoral outcomes, and the significant issues of decreased voter participation, tabulation delays, and the undermining of electoral trust;

Be It Further Resolved, that the Deschutes County Republicans advocate for the maintenance of the current plurality voting system or the exploration of alternative electoral reforms that preserve the clarity and simplicity of voting, ensure the integrity of the electoral process, and genuinely enhance democratic representation without imposing undue burdens on voters or the electoral system;

Be It Finally Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be distributed to relevant party members, elected officials, and stakeholders within Deschutes County and beyond, to inform them of the Deschutes County Republicans' position on ranked choice voting and to encourage a broader dialogue on electoral reform that prioritizes voter accessibility, electoral integrity, and the preservation of democratic principles.

Adopted by the Deschutes County Republicans on May 23rd, 2024                                                                                                 
Scott Stuart, Chair
Deschutes County Republicans