More Choices, Less Extremism: The Effect of Ranked-Choice Voting on Political Extremism in Maine

Abstract

Political polarization and extremism have been intensifying in the United States for decades and are reaching generational highs, posing a threat to foundational democratic norms and institutions. This paper examines the impact of ranked-choice voting (RCV) adoption in Maine on the political extremism of candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. Utilizing a text-based analysis of candidate campaign platforms from 2006 through 2024, the research quantifies candidate extremism and employs synthetic control matching and difference-in-difference analysis to assess the causal effect of Maine's 2018 RCV implementation. Whereas previous studies have found scant support for the moderating effect of ranked-choice voting, this study's findings indicate that RCV led to a significant decline in political extremism of candidate platforms in Maine. The synthetic control method estimates a 19.8% reduction, while the fixed effects model suggests a 20.5% decrease in rhetorical extremism following RCV adoption. These results suggest that the incentives inherent in RCV, such as the need to secure broader voter appeal, may contribute to a more moderate political environment. The study contributes to the literature on electoral reform and elite-driven polarization and has important policy implications for mitigating political division in the United States.