Opinion: Ranked choice voting can save San Jose taxpayers millions

A Mercury News opinion piece published May 27, 2026 argues that adopting ranked choice voting in San Jose would eliminate the need for separate runoff elections, generating significant savings for city taxpayers. San Jose currently holds standalone runoff elections when no candidate wins a majority in the primary — a process that costs the city millions and typically draws far lower voter turnout than general elections. The piece contends that by consolidating elections into a single RCV contest, the city could both cut expenses and improve democratic participation. Jay Shuler, a Cal RCV volunteer and longtime San Jose resident, points to examples from other California jurisdictions where RCV has streamlined elections and reduced administrative overhead. The opinion reflects a broader statewide conversation about fiscal and democratic benefits of RCV adoption in cities across California.

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