Allison Lantero was exactly right with her letter last week about how we need ranked-choice voting [Viewpoints, March 3]. Here’s why:
Based on the interviews I’ve read and listened to so far, Jazmin Robinson is my choice to replace Rep. Danny Davis. She is singing from my songbook. But I am not likely to vote for her because she has little chance this round. (Please run again, Jazmin!) I will vote for someone else. With so many candidates, it’s likely that my candidate will not win, and we may be heading to a run-off, which is an additional expensive and time-consuming election.
Missed Allison’s letter about ranked-choice voting? She explains: “In a ranked-choice system each voter ranks her preferred candidates — and then if no candidate reaches more than 50% of first-choice votes, the bottom-performing candidate is eliminated and voters who chose that candidate first have their vote counted for their second choice and so on until a candidate wins with more than half the votes. Ranked-choice eliminates the risk of cancellation because votes for lower-performing candidates eventually consolidate behind stronger candidates. It also incentivizes candidates to reach out to a broader swath of the public than just their base. Essentially, ranked-choice voting gives power back to the voters.” [1]
With ranked-choice voting, I can vote my heart first, then put other, seemingly stronger candidates in place as my second, third and fourth choices. This actually gives Jazmin a real chance — she may have captured the hearts of many voters in the 7th District. And if she did not, then I will not have “thrown away my vote.” I will have voted for several other candidates who would be acceptable to me, and one of them will gain the office.
The candidate who is elected will actually be a high-ranking choice for most voters. No run-off is needed. And many of us will feel comfortable with the person in office.
I am grateful for the abundance of strong candidates running for office in this election. Ranked-choice voting would give them the chance they deserve!
[1] https://www.oakpark.com/2026/03/03/ranked-choice-voting-works-better
Kris Hansen
Oak Park