Political Reform Program
 

Momentum Growing for Instant Runoff Voting

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is an election method which gives voters more meaningful choices, reduces campaign spending, and encourages positive and issue-oriented campaigns.  Municipalities and taxpayers like IRV because IRV can eliminate the need for unnecessary and expensive two round runoff elections.

San Francisco has successfully used IRV (also known as ranked choice voting) since 2004.  Now, cities and communities across California are looking at using IRV as a way to save money and boost voter turnout.  Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro are just some of the jurisdictions which are studying or are likely to use IRV in the near future.

New America’s Political Reform Program has published several recent commentaries about IRV in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Oregonian, as well as an in-depth report about how IRV can reinvigorate democracy in L.A.

Articles

Instant Runoffs Would Reduce Election Costs

California faces a crater-size, $24 billion deficit - and we're about to throw away millions more on three elections we don't need. But here's the good news: If we adopt Instant Runoff Voting, or IRV, for special elections, we can save that amount and more.

With IRV, taxpayers could save nearly $2 million July 14 (fittingly, Bastille Day).

Gautam Dutta | The Daily Breeze | June 8, 2009

Runaway, Budget-Busting Runoffs

This year, California state and local governments will spend close to $10 million on at least three elections we do not need. That makes no sense amidst California’s and our nation’s brutal recession.

Gautam Dutta | California Progress Report | April 1, 2009

A Cheaper, Quicker, More Civil Way to Run San Jose Elections: Instant Runoffs

Madison Nguyen shouldn't be the only one breathing a sigh a relief.

When San Jose District 7 voters rejected a recall of the city councilwoman Tuesday, they spared the entire city the cost of holding two additional special elections.

Blair Bobier | San Jose Mercury News | March 7, 2009

Instant Runoff Voting

Now that our country has elected a 21st century president, we should reconsider our 18th century electoral system.

Blair Bobier | Los Angeles Times | December 10, 2008

Report Card for Ranked-Choice Voting

What are you doing today? How would you like to be voting in runoff elections for the Board of Supervisors? That's what many would be doing if San Francisco hadn't voted in 2002 to replace the old December runoff system with an "instant runoff" system known as ranked choice voting.

Whether using ranked choice voting or December runoffs, the goal is the same: to elect officeholders with majority support from the public. But with ranked-choice voting, you accomplish this in one November election.

Steven Hill | San Francisco Chronicle | December 9, 2008

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Policy Papers

Instant Runoff Voting for the City of San Jose:

Executive Summary

San Jose uses a two-round runoff system to elect its mayor and city council, with the first election in June and a runoff election in November if no candidate wins a majority of votes in June. Voter turnout in the June general election is about half that of the November election, with turnout disproportionately lower among traditionally disenfranchised communities.  With most elections being decided in a low turnout June election, a small and unrepresentative segment of the community is having an oversized effect

Blair Bobier, Steven Hill | June 2009

Voter Education and Outreach in San Francisco to Implement IRV

San Francisco voters approved Proposition A in March 2002 that adopted instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting) to elect local offices in San Francisco. The first election occurred in November 2004. For that election, the Board of Supervisors funded and the Department of Elections conducted a voter education and outreach campaign leading up to the first election. Approximately $750,000 was spent by the Department of Elections to educate the 440,000 registered voters in San Francisco.

For the complete… more

June 17, 2007

Instant Runoff Voting for the City of Los Angeles

Overview

The City of Los Angeles currently uses a two-round runoff system to elect its mayor, city attorney, city council and controller. One election is held in early March, and if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, a second election between the top two finishers is held in May. Voter participation is usually low, with only 10 percent of registered voters participating in the March 6, 2007 election. In addition, LA taxpayers pay millions of dollars for… more

Lynne Serpe, Steven Hill | April 10, 2007

Instant Runoff Voting

Click here for a brief video discussion of this idea.

Americans want a more representative and responsive government capable of addressing the nation's challenges, yet our electoral system is founded on antiquated practices that inhibit voter choices and encourage a politics of polarization and paralysis. It's time to bring our electoral system into the 21st century by adopting instant runoff voting (IRV).

IRV elects… more

Steven Hill | February 1, 2007

Instant Runoff Voting: Making Your Vote Count

Overview

California’s winner-take-all electoral system is responsible for polarized politics, a balkanized legislature and declining voter turnout. Advanced electoral systems like instant runoff voting offer voters the opportunity for better choices at the ballot box, improved political debate and broader-based politics.

The Problem

Loss of Moderates. Party primaries in California empower the political extremes and discourage moderates, creating a Legislature that is unable to reach compromise and is therefore subject to gridlock. Primaries are low turnout… more

July 29, 2006

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Events

CA EVENT: Instant Runoff Voting (San Jose)

In order to be elected to office in San Jose, a candidate must secure a majority of the votes cast. Sounds simple enough, but if no candidate receives a majority, then a runoff election is held in which the top candidates must compete again. This process is not only lengthy and results in voter fatigue and low voter turnout, but can cost $500,000 per election. There must be a better way to elect our leaders.

06/11/2009 - 12:00pm
06/11/2009 - 1:15pm

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting in Los Angeles

On Monday, June 2nd, the New America Foundation's Political Reform Program held an engaging panel discussion and luncheon on instant runoff voting (IRV) in Los Angeles.

06/02/2008 - 12:00pm
06/02/2008 - 1:30pm

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

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… more
04/19/2008 - 10:00am
04/19/2008 - 12:00pm

California Event: Alternative Voting Systems

The Alternative Voting Systems forum will look at a range of voting system methods, including the current numbered seat system used by Pasadena Unified School District as well as the geographic districts used by Pasadena City Council. Speakers will present information about alternatives such as instant runoff voting and choice voting, systems which allow voters to rank their candidates in order of preference (1,2,3). Attendees are encouraged to fill out and bring a copy of The Pasadena Weekly's more

04/26/2007 - 7:00pm
04/26/2007 - 8:30pm

Ten Big Ideas for a New America

The recent turnover in Congress, combined with a wide open presidential election cycle, creates a rare opportunity to bring new ideas into the political process. The spirit of this new era will be captured by those -- from either party or no party -- who embrace innovative yet pragmatic solutions to the foremost challenges facing our nation.

At this event, the New America Foundation released a major new report outlining Ten Big Ideas for a New America, and… more

01/31/2007 - 11:00am
01/31/2007 - 1:30pm

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IRV in San Jose

The Political Reform Program recently released a policy paper which found that IRV could boost voter turnout in San Jose and save the city millions of dollars.  Two city councilors, Ash Kalra and Sam Liccardo, spoke at a free public event about IRV sponsored by the Political Reform Program and Common Cause in June.  The San Jose Elections Commission looked at IRV during their May meeting and will discuss it again on August 12.

LA Councilmembers Create IRV Task Force  

By a 10-2 vote, the Los Angeles City Council approved a task force that will research how instant runoff voting can be implemented for elections in the City of Los Angeles. The task force is supposed to report back to the Council by July 4, 2009.

To read the press release, click here.

Long Beach looks at IRV

The city clerk of Long Beach has issued a favorable report that outlines the advantages of Long Beach changing from its current two-round method to electing majority winners in a single election using IRV. Long Beach Press-Telegram endorses IRV; read the city clerk's report here.

Labor Legend Dolores Huerta Endorses IRV

Legendary union leader Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Cesar Chavez, has endorsed IRV. In a few short months, IRV has been gaining strong support from all corners of Los Angeles. Earlier, former Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Woo and the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild (American Federation of Teachers 1521) announced their support for IRV.

Among candidates and elected officials, supporters include: Former Los Angeles Mayor of Los Angeles Richard J. Riordan, City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Jose Huizar, Councilmember Wendy Greuel, Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, Councilmember Ed Reyes, former Councilmember Richard Alatorre, State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, State Sen. Jack Scott, Assemblymember Warren Furutani, Los Angeles Community College Board President Sylvia Scott-Hayes, Los Angeles Community College Trustee Georgia Mercer, Los Angeles Community College Trustee Mona Field, Los Angeles Community College Trustee Nancy Pearlman, and LA City Attorney candidate Carmen Trutanich.

Click here, for a full list of endorsements by elected officials, organizations and individuals.

For additional IRV updates, please see www.IRVinLA.org.

Study: Communities of Color Benefit from IRV

The New America Foundation study on Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and Its Impact on Communities of Color analyzes IRV elections from other American cities, based on previous reports from FairVote, San Francisco State University, Asian Law Caucus and others.

The study shows that racial and ethnic minorities overwhelmingly understand IRV and use ranked ballots effectively. In San Francisco, voter turnout in socio-economically diverse neighborhoods has increased dramatically. The study also analyzes the effectiveness of past IRV educational campaigns and provides pointers for the City of Los Angeles to conduct its own voter outreach.

"Our study shows that communities of color take full advantage of IRV. They not only use ranked ballots effectively, but also turn out in record numbers -- giving them a greater voice in the political process," said Monika Kulma of the New America Foundation "The study shows that IRV will benefit all residents of Los Angeles," she added.

Click here for more on the latest on the campaign for IRV in LA
 
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