News & Updates

RCV enables ideologically complex voters to express their nuanced views

First, California and its Democrats should enact proportional representation, the fairest way to divide up legislative seats.

As more democracies confront the limitations of outdated systems, ranked choice voting stands out as a practical reform that brings elections closer to reflecting the true will of the people.

Evidence shows this method promotes political civility, supports consensus and gives voters greater choice and satisfaction.

Santa Clara County officials aren’t killing the idea of ranked choice voting — they just need to sort out an “existential crisis” before seismically shifting Silicon Valley elections.

With Josh Rosa of Better Ballot Sacramento

Ranked-choice voting works as a powerful system that narrows a crowded field of candidates through a series of computer-assisted instant runoffs.

With RCV on the ballot in several more states this November, it’s a good chance to compare how it works in each state and look at how it has affected election outcomes.

Ranked choice, also known as instant runoff voting, allows voters to rank candidates in order from their favorite to least preferred candidate.

While critics of RCV complain that it confuses and somehow disenfranchises voters, a recent research paper found significant and substantially higher probabilities of turnout in places that use RCV.

Cal RCV supporters heard from Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, about the RCV rollout in NYC

Guest speakers shared insights and updates on RCV progress in California and our neighbor to the north, Oregon

Santa Clara County is considering a fundamental change to voting, which is moving to a ranked-choice voting model.

In close races like this, it’s especially important that every vote has its maximum impact – yet just 38% of voters selected Liccardo or Low. That means 62% of voters aren’t represented in the results. If California used RCV, that 62% of voters could have ranked backup choices on their ballots and consolidated around a viable candidate they liked.

Mayor Eduardo Martinez said the ranked-choice voting system would ensure that Richmond voters are heard and that elections are decided by its residents, not corporations and special interest groups.

Santa Clara LGBTQ+ leaders speak out

Although entrenched interests on both sides of the political spectrum oppose RCV, election-deniers present a rising challenge to ranked-choice reforms.

Here's a hint: it's really just that easy. And ranking more never hurts your first choice.

Opinion: Steve Garvey’s strange win is a loss for California election reform. Here’s the solution.

Ranked Choice Voting addresses the problem of low turnout primaries