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John,
We write this update in the shadow of profound tragedy. Our community has been shaken by the horrific shooting at Annunciation just as students were returning for the school year. For many of us, this is deeply personal—a neighborhood, a beloved school, and families left grieving.
This tragedy—set against the broader dismantling of democratic institutions and escalating attacks on immigrants—underscores both the urgency of our work and the climate in which we are operating. Even in the wake of violence, some leaders are weaponizing the moment to advance harmful agendas instead of addressing the real crisis of gun violence. It is a stark reminder of how fragile—and how essential—our democracy is, and why amplifying majority voices is inseparable from the fight for a safer, more just Minnesota and nation.
Amid this painful backdrop, we want to share highlights of our work this summer, critical updates on national developments, and opportunities to engage this fall.
Redistricting Wars: A Loss for Democracy
We are witnessing the further dismantling of American democracy with a mid-decade redistricting war, triggered by the Trump administration in an attempt to rig the midterms. This power grab doesn’t just redraw maps—it redraws the balance of our democracy.
Gerrymandering has long been used as a partisan weapon. While Democrats understandably must “fight fire with fire” in an act of democratic self-defense, the truth is this is a losing game for democracy itself. Every time district lines are manipulated for partisan gain, voters lose. Communities are carved up, representation is distorted, and faith in our system erodes.
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The Real Solution: Proportional Ranked Choice Voting
The redistricting war is a natural evolution of our winner-take-all political system, as political expert Steven Hill highlights in his recent piece in Democracy SOS [[link removed]] .
There is a way out: structural reform. Representative Don Beyer’s timely Fair Representation Act , backed by FairVote and RCV community, would:
* Replace single-winner, gerrymandered districts with larger, multi-member Congressional districts.
* Elect members of Congress through Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PRCV) so that every vote counts and representation reflects the full diversity of each community.
* Establish independent redistricting commissions to eliminate partisan map-rigging.
Together, these reforms would make gerrymandering a thing of the past. While the Fair Representation Act applies to Congressional elections, Proportional RCV can also be adopted at the state and local levels—ensuring legislatures, city councils, and school boards truly reflect the diversity of their communities. Just as single-winner RCV spread city by city, states and municipalities are natural laboratories for this powerful innovation. The Minneapolis Park Board and Portland, Oregon, already use PRCV, and several more cities are poised to adopt it in the coming years.
With PRCV, it’s no longer politicians picking their voters, but voters choosing representatives who reflect their values and voices.
This is our opportunity—not to keep playing by rigged rules, but to change the rules of the game itself. Stay tuned for a virtual event we’ll be hosting this fall to dig into the Fair Representation Act and how PRCV can transform our democracy.
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Credit: FairVote
RCV is on the Ballot This Fall!
It’s election season in Minnesota—and Ranked Choice Voting is in action across five cities: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, St. Louis Park, and Minnetonka.
Our education efforts are in full swing: tabling at community events, hosting meet & greets, co-sponsoring forums, training candidates, and reaching voters through media. Across all five cities, voters will get the chance to rank their choices, make their voices heard, and shape more representative leadership.
➡️ Visit RankYourVote.org for everything you need: how RCV works, candidate forums, election dates, and who’s on the ballot—from the competitive mayoral races in Minneapolis and St. Paul to city council races across the metro.
Don’t live in an RCV city? You may still have local elections—check your ballot at myballot.org [[link removed]] .
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New Danger: Potential Executive Order on Elections
The Trump administration is preparing an executive order that would strip states of their constitutional authority to run elections. Reports indicate it could mandate strict voter ID, ban mail-in voting, eliminate voting machines—and even target RCV.
These measures would be unconstitutional, but legality has rarely slowed this administration. We must push back against this attempted takeover of our elections.
Sign our Petition Today to Defend Democracy ✍️ [[link removed]]
Stay tuned for more updates and calls to action on this developing front.
From Chaos to Solutions: Minnesotans Want RCV
With so much chaos dominating the headlines, it’s easy to feel discouraged. But at the Minnesota State Fair, thousands of fairgoers reminded us that the path forward is clear. Across the political spectrum, Minnesotans voiced strong support for RCV as the antidote to extremism and dysfunction.
At our booth, voters ranked their favorite fair foods, signed petitions, and shared their excitement for a democracy that actually reflects their voices. The message was loud and clear: we’re tired of the broken system—and ready for real solutions.
A huge thank-you to everyone who signed on and to the volunteers who kept the booth buzzing from 9am to 9pm for all 12 days!
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Giving Us Hope: Virtual Event—October 27
In a season of political chaos and division, we need voices of clarity, courage, and hope. That’s why we’re closing out our Vaccine for Democracy 2.0 series with two extraordinary leaders:
* Dr. Michael Osterholm —FairVote MN Board member and world-renowned public health expert, currently on tour with his new book This Big One .
* Dr. Marc Gorelick —recently retired CEO of Children’s Minnesota and leading advocate for gun violence prevention.
On October 27 , they’ll come together for a powerful conversation on how we can move beyond dysfunction and fear—and how RCV is essential to that change. Just as evidence-based solutions save lives in public health, structural reforms like RCV can safeguard our democracy, reduce polarization, and create space for real problem-solving.
This event isn’t just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Together, we’ll imagine what’s possible when we leave the chaos behind and build a democracy that truly works for all of us.
👉 Join us for inspiration, solutions, and hope. Reserve your spot today—our last two events filled up fast!
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60 Days to Go
This is a challenging moment—from heartbreaking violence in our own communities to the chaos of attacks on our democracy. But with less than two months until Election Day, we’re reminded that Minnesotans want solutions, not dysfunction.
Every conversation we have about RCV is a step toward healing our democracy and ensuring our voices are truly heard. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be out in the community talking with voters, hosting events, and building momentum.
Join us—at an upcoming event, as a volunteer, or simply by sharing the word about RCV. Together, we can turn this moment of challenge into lasting reform and a stronger, more hopeful democracy.
The FairVote Minnesota Team

FairVote Minnesota
550 Vandalia Street, Suite 210
Saint Paul, MN 55114
United States
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