By CHLOE WASKEY
The Ramspondents
Fort Collins held its first Ranked Choice election this month, marking the town's shift away from the traditionally used first-past-the-post election system. Instead of choosing one favored candidate, voters were able to cast a vote for each candidate in their order of preference.
The new system was voted into effect back in 2022 with the passing of Ordnance No. 080 2022, which passed by 58.15%. In the years leading up to the 2025 election, voters speculated on the potential outcomes of the shift with divided opinion: Opponents warned that a new system would be too confusing and potentially isolate voters, while proponents pointed to several benefits observed in other cities that already use ranked choice.
Upon reflection, opinion of ranked choice voting still appears to be somewhat mixed. The Ramspondents conducted a small survey over Instagram to ask Fort Collins voters about their experience. Overall, a majority of respondents, 82%, said they had a positive assessment of ranked choice voting, though some concerns remain.
“I was super overwhelmed when I got my Ballot,” one respondent said. “I had to put it off when I realized how much research I had to do. When I finally voted though, I was super glad I looked into all the candidates.”
Increased voter and candidate participation is a major objective of ranked choice voting, especially in smaller races that do not take place during a national election. By encouraging more candidates to run and diversifying the available political platforms, voters are in theory more motivated to research their ballots and participate in election activities.
Although the process is relatively new in the United States, a 2025 report by the American Bar Association suggested that compared to plurality elections, ranked choice voting generally improves public satisfaction with democracy.
“The research provides evidence that RCV is an improvement over plurality voting with clear benefits in terms of representation, campaign quality, mobilization and turnout,” the report reads.
Fort Collins’ candidate pool was certainly larger this year than it had been in the past, with seven candidates running for mayor and two to three candidates running for city council in the eligible districts. Although candidates usually do not campaign on party affiliation, there was a clear presence of non-traditional political platforms among those that more closely resembled “Republican” or “Democrat.”
Tyler Cooper, a Fort Collins resident and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, said ranked choice allowed him to vote according to his beliefs better than previous elections.
“I got to vote for a third party which I normally would not do because I don’t want to split the vote, but I felt OK doing it this time because I could still vote a major party highly,” Cooper said.
Post election statistics reveal that independent and non-affiliated voters, a demographic that is usually less politically active, made up about 45% of the votes in Fort Collins—a figure much higher than the national 31% in the 2024 election. Still, overall turnout was only marginally improved from the city’s last regular election, with 48% of residents voting in 2023 and 49% voting in 2025.
While a 1% increase may seem unremarkable, some voters said they were surprised turnout didn't plummet with the new system. Many voters were wary of switching to ranked choice voting because they worried it could be too complicated, ultimately dissuading people from voting altogether.
“I honestly didn’t want the city to approve ranked choice,” said Griffin Rideout, a Fort Collins resident. “I don't really need the extra confusion when I already don't have a lot of time to vote, and what about the elderly population that have spent their whole lives doing it the other way? I just felt like it's not the most accessible way, but I guess it ended up working out OK which is good.”
Indeed, voters aged 65-74 made up the largest age group among voters, in line with the city's demographics. This continued participation may have been in part due to the city's efforts to educate residents prior to the election. The original ordinance mandated that the city include instructions with every ballot and invest in multiple education programs throughout the year, including workshops, online guides and community meet-and-greets.
“I went to one of the workshops at CSU and I loved it,” Cooper said. “I don’t think anyone there left feeling super lost and we learned a lot about the overall election process, which was super helpful.”
As much outreach as the city did, however, some voters still feel left behind: 23% of survey respondents said after voting they “still have gaps in understanding” or were “very confused,” and 10% said they “understood, but with difficulty.” The American Bar Association report showed that the extent to which voters understood the system they were voting into remains to be studied.
“I honestly thought it was simple when I was voting, but I had no idea what was going on when the results came in,” one respondent said.
It may take several more elections for the effects of ranked choice to be realized as Fort Collins voters continue to familiarize themselves with the system, but for now, the switch has seemingly been successful. A 2021 study by New America suggested that approval for ranked choice can increase with understanding.
“The research should also allay fears that RCV is too confusing or discriminatory: voters understand RCV, and learn to like it, too, particularly with experience,” the study reads.
Chloe Waskey is a CSU student majoring in Journalism and Media Communication with a minor in political science.