Dwight Flatt

New York City does it and, for certain elections, so do states like Alaska, Maine, Hawaii, Kansas, and Wyoming, along with countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Voters in those locations and more are now using Ranked Choice Voting to not only submit ballots that rank their first choice of candidates in an election but also list their second and third choice.

The Sun Lakes Democratic Club (SLDC) will be hosting a speaker from the non-partisan group Voter Choice Arizona at its 7 p.m. meeting on Monday, May 8, to explain how Ranked Choice Voting works and whether it might be the direction of future elections in Arizona. Ranked Choice Voting is said to, among other things, help prevent polarized elections and reduce (not that it’s a problem in Arizona) negative campaigning.

SLDC club members attending the meeting will also celebrate May as Mental Health Month with presentations by OD Harris, Chandler City Councilman, and Patti Serrano, Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) Governing Board member. Hear firsthand some of the concerns being expressed by CUSD on the state of mental health for students ranging from elementary to high school.

Rounding out the evening will be LD13 Representative Jennifer Pawlik with an update on the continuing 2023 AZ legislative session. Get Pawlik’s view on whether the legislature will approve a budget before the end of the fiscal year or go into default.

SLDC is made up of like-minded individuals who are part of over 2,500 registered Democrats throughout the Sun Lakes area promoting an Arizona that works for everyone. We invite you to join us at 6:30 p.m. for a social hour, with the meeting starting at 7 p.m., on May 8 in the Navajo Room at the Sun Lakes Country Club, at 25061 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. N., in Sun Lakes.