Gautam Dutta: All Publications, Events and Press

Gautam Dutta in the Long Beach Press-Telegram | 'Long Beach City Clerk Warns Council of Voter Fatigue'

Communications — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:11:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Gautam Dutta, deputy director of the Political Reform Program for the non-profit New America Foundation, who was invited by Herrera to speak at the committee meeting, told the council that voter turnout increased 168 percent in San Francisco after initiating instant runoff voting.

Dutta said the voting system helps avoid the Ralph Nader or Ross Perot effect, when voters may support a third-party candidate, but don't vote for the candidate because that person is unlikely to win. Similarly, voters who support a long-shot candidate wouldn't be at risk of taking votes away from another acceptable candidate, thus placing the person they least support in office, he said.

"You know, rest assured that if that person doesn't make it and gets knocked out, your vote will automatically go to your second choice. ... That I think would make voters feel a lot more at ease about the voting process," Dutta said... LINK

The Groundhog Day Election In Los Angeles

Ron Tang — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:22:00 -0400

After a fiercely fought primary election, no winner emerged in last week's election in the LA County Supervisor race between City Councilmember Bernard Parks and State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas. With barely one-sixth of all voters participating, millions of dollars spent, and a race that turned increasingly negative, neither Ridley-Thomas nor Parks could muster a majority (50 percent plus one) in the nine-candidate field. As a result, both candidates must now duke it out for another five months until the November general election -- leaving voters in the crossfire of more mudslinging and personal attacks.

According to some political consultants and politicians,… more

Top L.A. Labor Group Embraces Election Reform

Communications — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:29:00 -0400

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO has endorsed a critical reform for Los Angeles elections: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). The County Federation, the second largest chartered Labor Council of AFL-CIO in the country, represents over 350 unions and over 800,000 workers. Maria Elena Durazo, the County Federation’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer, noted that IRV would benefit voters, working families and taxpayers alike: “By saving millions of taxpayer dollars and relieving voter fatigue, IRV will benefit all of Los Angeles. We strongly urge the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa to put IRV on the… more

California State Controller John Chiang Endorses LA Election Reform

Communications — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:16:00 -0400

Los Angeles, CA -- California State Controller John Chiang has endorsed a critical election reform for Los Angeles: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Chiang, California's top fiscal officer and highest ranking Asian American elected official, announced his support at a City Hall panel discussion held today at Los Angeles City Hall's Bradley Tower.

Controller Chiang noted that IRV will help boost voter turnout by reducing voter fatigue: "I think part of the fatigue with the American electoral system is with the runoffs -- with the endless electoral cycles where people do not get time to govern and people don't get time to… more

Gautam Dutta on KPPC Radio | 'Instant Runoff' Proposal Would Do Away With Some Runoff Elections in LA

Communications — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:59:00 -0400

New America in the News:
(KPPC)--The idea of "instant runoff" voting appears to be gaining steam in Los Angeles. The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and the League of Women Voters want change: a proposal would eliminate runoff elections in non-partisan races in several categories. KPCC's Frank Stoltze reports.

Frank Stoltze: In their case for instant runoff voting, advocates point to last year's runoff election between two candidates for the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.

Gautam Dutta: Only six percent showed up to vote. In fact, in some precincts, nobody showed up to vote. That election cost five million dollars, and that's a cost of $40 per voter... LINK to Interview

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting and Minorities in L.A.

Communications — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
04/19/2008 - 10:00am

Currently, Los Angeles' local elections run on a wasteful, two-round election system. Last May, only 6 percent of voters turned out for the runoff election for the Los Angeles Community College Districts -- an election that cost taxpayers $5 million, or $40 per voter. For this reason, the LA City Council is seriously considering Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) for local elections.

By combining the general and runoff election into 1 single election, IRV will save millions of taxpayer dollars and help raise voter turnout. IRV allows voters to rank their choices, in order of preference (1-2-3). This way, if your first choice cannot win, your vote will go to your next choice.

Please join the New America Foundation/Political Reform Program and the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable for an engaging discussion on political reform and its impact on communities of color.