Who does Proposition 131 really help? Everyone, of course, but we will explain why in more detail in a moment.

As you might imagine, there’s more to the proposed election reform than oversimplified hypophora that targets high-profile campaign supporters or attempts to discredit the measure through a past candidate’s “concerning” election results.

Will Prop 131 take big money out of politics? No, because, though campaign finance reform is a laudable goal in itself, changes will not happen on their own. Colorado first needs civic-minded leaders who advocate for the communities they represent. And these leaders should hail from the pragmatic and vibrant communities that have been historically fenced out as a result of the influence of external money and insider politics.

Open primaries and ranked-choice voting (RCV), which are the key reforms offered by Prop 131, have been shown to benefit non-establishment candidates and candidates from disadvantaged communities. More importantly, it would give voters a broader selection of candidates in every election, which has led to meaningful, positive outcomes in communities where similar measures have already passed.

The bottom line is Prop 131 will help all voters in Colorado, including those in disadvantaged communities of color, by making elections more competitive and fair.

Critics argue our independent redistricting commission should have created more politically competitive districts. But the constitutional requirements to keep county and municipal jurisdictions as whole as possible, coupled with the fact many of us now live alongside people with like-minded views (a demographic swing that political geographers refer to as the “Big Sort”) makes that practically impossible.

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As a result, we are left with a system in which only 13% of voters in 2022 cast meaningful votes (meaning one cast in a competitive election not pre-determined by party affiliation alone) in state House races and 18% for congressional races, because more than two-thirds of races were decided in low-turnout primaries.

Prop 131 aims to fix that by strengthening our democratic system currently undermined by chronic polarization and incessant partisanship. Real-world implementation in more than 60 voting jurisdictions nationwide has shown nonpartisan open primaries and ranked-choice general elections play a pivotal role in correcting many of the existing flaws in our election system the establishment is unwilling to acknowledge — such as barriers to entry for traditionally marginalized candidates like women, Blacks, or candidates of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.

That may be best demonstrated by the successful outcome of New York City’s ranked-choice election process in 2021. Incorporating RCV in the municipal primary that spring allowed women, and especially women of color, to run and win in record numbers. As a result, women of color were elected to a majority of seats on the New York City Council for the first time in history that November — a milestone to be celebrated, rather than something to be vaguely “concerned” about.

There’s no good reason to believe the same can’t happen in Colorado. Examples of the ranked voting’s positive impacts abound, and at least one study found adopting RCV was associated with an estimated 9-point increase in the percentage of candidates from racial or ethnic minority groups.

Prop 131 offers an additional step forward in the collective project we call democracy by reducing barriers to entry for candidates through an open primary where the top-four candidates advance to the general election, regardless of political party. Instead of being told to “wait your turn” while political parties push a more “viable” candidate, this system helps level the playing field for any candidate to run and win in the primary on their own terms. In fact, advancing candidates who have the skills to assemble broad-based coalitions and foster consensus is precisely what this proposition aims to do.

Worries that this form of an instant-runoff election will disenfranchise minorities are overblown. The Institute for Mathematics and Democracy has revealed “serious methodological and analytical flaws” in the limited studies citing concern with ranked-choice voting. Meanwhile, as MIT’s Election Science and Data Lab noted just last year, “There is an extensive body of literature supporting the notion that (ranked-choice voting) increases representation for marginalized gender and racial groups.”

That’s the point. By gaining more accurate representation, more communities of color will have a seat at the decision-making table. Through their representatives, these communities can have their concerns, issues, ideas, and desires heard — leading to more inclusive, innovative and just legislation. Voters in those districts understand that, and condescending attempts to portray them as confused or more easily manipulated is frankly insulting.

Ranked-choice voting takes more of a voter’s opinion into consideration when determining winners. But don’t mistake political expression for voter confusion. Not every voter will rank every candidate in every election. How voters choose to fill out — or not fill out — their ballots is ultimately up to them.

Whether as a candidate or a voter, Prop 131 provides everyone with an opportunity that currently doesn’t exist — an opportunity to participate in a way that truly reflects Colorado’s diversity, and know your opinion matters.

This election, let’s take the opportunity to end the charade of equity put forth by the establishment and build a better system that works for all Coloradans by voting “Yes” on Prop 131.

Carlos Perez of Colorado Springs is an unaffiliated voter and software engineer. He served on the inaugural Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission in 2021. Terrance Carroll of Denver served as speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African American to hold the position.