PORT ANGELES — The League of Women Voters of Clallam County and its partners will offer a taste of ranked choice voting at an educational mixer on Wednesday, May 10.
Participants will try five appetizers and vote for their first, second and third choices to illustrate how ranked choice voting works.
“People will vote on their favorite appetizers, just as they would candidates,” said Rebekah Miller, of the League of Women Voters of Clallam County (LWVCLA), which is working in collaboration with Sound Publishing and FairVoteWA to host the event.
“It’s a really fun way to show the benefits and how simple ranked vote is,” she said.
The mixer will combine five different appetizers, a cash bar, a speaker or two, and an interactive demonstration of what ranked choice voting is and how it works, Miller said.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St., on the Port Angeles Harbor for the event that will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Prepaid registration is highly recommended as seating is limited. To register online, go to www.lwvcla.org/forums.
For $20 a person, participants will receive five different appetizers:
• Strawberry Bruschetta with basil and chevre and balsamic reduction.
• Dungeness Crab Stuffed Mushroom Caps with saffron aioli.
• Stuffed Belgium Endive with blue cheese, dried fruit and candied nuts.
• Vegetable Cocktail Spring Rolls with sweet chili sauce.
• Deviled Eggs with and without bacon.
Fair Vote will have participants rank them individually, and then the group will vote on them as a whole to see how the group’s first, second, and third choice shakes out into a ranked vote.
Afterward, Red Lion will offer a Voter’s Special menu for those who wish to extend their evening into dinner with new or old friends.
“Ranked choice voting gives you the option to rank candidates in order of preference. If your first choice can’t win, your vote is instantly counted for your second choice,” according to Ranked Choice Voting Facts at https://rankedchoicevotingfacts.com, which has more information on this method of counting votes.
“It sounds complicated to people but I think once they see it in action, there will be an ah-ha moment,” Miller said.
Said Susan Fisch, LWVCLA board member: “It makes sure every vote is counted.”
“And it can really dial down the friction between candidates because it’s not an all or nothing game,” Miller added.
For more details, contact Miller at bekmill@gmail.com.
