# Cato expert discusses ranked-choice voting in MD 

February 25, 2025 • News Releases 

Cato Institute Senior Fellow [Walter Olson](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fwalter-olson/1/010001953dc9985f-494803fa-d128-437f-b2e2-d47fb2bd1600-000000/MxLfBDOZKaFMdJ975SaSpZM7bq8=415___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmUzNzUxMTJhMDI5NDBjNjllMjcwZDcwMjc5YTNiMzE0Ojc6NGIzZDo3MDkwYjVhMzFmODc1YjAyZjJhYjgwYmFkMzRlMTg0YjEwZDY1NGQzMjIyMDg0ZTQ5MTc5YzgzNDZjMTQyNWZmOmg6VDpO) is available for interviews in light of tomorrow’s Maryland State Senate hearing on Senate Bill 0383, which would introduce ranked-choice voting in presidential primaries in Maryland.

Olson has [written](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fwalter-olson*2Fcategory*2Fblog*3Fquery=ranked-choice*2Bvoting/1/010001953dc9985f-494803fa-d128-437f-b2e2-d47fb2bd1600-000000/QxyXyg58-jHR_-F7rBUrvJpooU4=415___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmUzNzUxMTJhMDI5NDBjNjllMjcwZDcwMjc5YTNiMzE0Ojc6YWViOTo4MzQ2NGRjMGFiZjgxMWIwYTU5ZDFhNDc4MzZlNmExM2VlMGM5OGVjMTRjMjJiMmM1ZTdiZDU0ZWI5ZDJmZWZhOmg6VDpO) [extensively](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fwalter-olson*2Fcategory*2Fcommentary*3Fquery=ranked-choice*2Bvoting/1/010001953dc9985f-494803fa-d128-437f-b2e2-d47fb2bd1600-000000/uWOyTgSVHejqEo4CAGBY-rAtPC8=415___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmUzNzUxMTJhMDI5NDBjNjllMjcwZDcwMjc5YTNiMzE0Ojc6YmQzZTphNjU5Y2UzZTFmMjMyYTQ3ODQwNGI1YzA5MjI2MzQ3YmYyYzI5YTcwM2U4ODRhY2QzMTU1MzlhMTU0ZTMyMDU1Omg6VDpO) on the topic of ranked-choice voting, and discussed it on the Cato Daily Podcast [here](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.cato.org*2Fmultimedia*2Fcato-daily-podcast*2Fdispelling-fear-loathing-over-ranked-choice-voting/1/010001953dc9985f-494803fa-d128-437f-b2e2-d47fb2bd1600-000000/RuWmYLhXB_sLjViAC6avMP1Oo-U=415___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmUzNzUxMTJhMDI5NDBjNjllMjcwZDcwMjc5YTNiMzE0Ojc6ZTNkNTo3YmFkNDEwOWExOGUwZTExYjM2YzYzNDhhZGUxZTVhZmE1NzA4ZDAyNDY1NzUxZTcyNDIxY2M4OThlYzRiNDI5Omg6VDpO).

In August 2024, Olson co-authored [a *Baltimore Sun* op-ed](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.cato.org*2Fcommentary*2Fwe-can-mend-our-national-division/1/010001953dc9985f-494803fa-d128-437f-b2e2-d47fb2bd1600-000000/gOO7c9C9HSZ4Xp9xSNyQGP1NMSk=415___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmUzNzUxMTJhMDI5NDBjNjllMjcwZDcwMjc5YTNiMzE0Ojc6NGFjMjo3NTM1Nzc4NTYwZDc1MWY2M2FmYmYxODg2ZTExM2I2YzRjNTdmOGQ0NmNiMTFiYmY1M2I4N2I5ZTJlNTU3ODIwOmg6VDpO) with Michael Sozan and Cissy Jackson of the Center for American Progress, titled “We Can Mend Our National Division.” In the piece, the authors name ranked-choice voting as a potential structural voting reform to help us move past our polarization.

If you would like to speak with Olson on this issue, please contact me to set up an interview.

Best,

**EMILY ADAMEC** 
Manager of Media Relations 
[eadamec@​cato.​org](mailto:eadamec@cato.org) 
O: (202) 216‑1410

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