To the Editor:

A significant number of Americans are concerned about our current system of electing those who represent us. Many, if not most, of us deeply believe that changes must happen in order to give us confidence that we can support candidates whose views and goals reflect our own. In addition, confidence in votes being accurately counted has been damaged.

The Better Elections Amendment, which will be on the 2022 November ballot, gives us the chance to address and solve both of those concerns. With this system, in the primary election, all the candidates will be listed on the same ballot and every voter will have a chance to choose which candidates they will support, regardless of party. The top four vote-getters in the primary will advance to the November general elections, where voters can rank their choices or simply vote for their top choice.

This system will give voters the freedom to choose the candidates whose opinions and objectives line up with their own, and will allow us to hold our politicians more accountable. Vacancies for elected offices would also be required to be filled by special elections, rather than hand-picked by politicians. The amendment also strengthens our elections’ integrity by ensuring paper ballots and transparent counting systems are included in our state constitution.

Few voters would argue that our election system is fine as it stands. Most Americans and most Missourians are looking for the solution which will allow voters a voice and the power to address pressing issues facing our state and our country.

Learn more at www.BetterElectionsMO.org and vote “YES” for the Better Elections Amendment in November!

Sincerely,

Marcia Hoffman,

Excelsior Springs