Thursday, January 8, 2026

A free public conversation on ranked choice voting (RCV) will be held on January 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Muskegon Community College’s Overbrook Theater.
Dr. Michael Dirksen will explain how the voting method works and what would it take to place the initiative on the Michigan ballot. RCV allows voters to rank candidates by preference at the ballot box. If a voter’s first-choice candidate is eliminated, the vote moves to the next choice.

Supporters say the process can give voters a stronger voice in competitive races and may help reduce partisan division. Opponents often argue that RCV would reduce transparency or trust in election results. 

MCC’s Political Science Instructor, Dr. Rei Gordon, says the event is intended for anyone interested in how voting systems function—regardless of political views.
“You don’t have to support or oppose ranked choice voting to benefit from understanding it,” Gordon said. “This session is about giving people clear information so they can make their own decisions.”

Dirksen’s presentation will run approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period.

Dr. Michael Dirksen is a political scientist whose work focuses on voting systems, public policy, and the ways institutional design shapes civic participation. He earned his B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Hope College in 2012. After a year with AmeriCorps, he completed an M.A. in Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, before he went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He joined Calvin University in 2022 as part of the Post-Doctoral Fellows program.