LA Charter Reform Panel Backs Ranked-Choice Voting in Major Governance Overhaul
3 abr 2026
A 13-member commission’s final charter recommendations for Los Angeles include adopting ranked-choice voting and other election reforms that could significantly reshape representation in the city.
Los Angeles’ 13-member Charter Reform Commission has released its final 301-page report outlining sweeping changes to city governance, which city leaders must act on by June to qualify measures for the November ballot. Major recommendations include expanding the City Council from 15 to 25 members to reduce district size, converting the chief administrative officer role into a chief financial officer, granting the Council shared oversight of the LAPD, and moving to a two-year budget cycle. The report also calls for key democracy reforms: lowering the voting age to 16, adopting ranked-choice voting, empowering neighborhood councils, and reducing barriers for candidates to run. Additional proposals cover stronger ethics powers for the Ethics Commission, increased dedicated funding for parks and public works, splitting the City Attorney’s responsibilities into appointed counsel and an elected prosecutor, and expanding mayoral authority over departments and budgeting.