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How to Bring Ranked Choice Voting to Your City

  • 6 hours ago
  • 2 min read

We’ve all been there: looking at a local election ballot and feeling like our vote is more of a "strategic calculation" than a true expression of our values. We worry about "split votes" or "spoilers," and sometimes it feels like the winners don’t actually represent the majority of the community.


If you’re a fan of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), you already know the solution. You know that RCV creates fairer outcomes, encourages civil campaigning, and ensures winners have true broad-based support. But here is the big question: How do you actually get it passed in your hometown?


Four people stand by a "Ranked Choice Voting" booth, wearing matching purple shirts. Ocean and blue sky in the background; sunny day.

At the Cal RCV, we believe you shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel. That’s why we launched the RCV for Your City program—a step-by-step roadmap designed to turn local supporters into effective organizers, lobbyists, and campaigners.



The Reality of the Journey

First, a bit of "real talk" from our volunteers' decades of combined reform experience: Winning RCV is a marathon, not a sprint. It typically takes 2 to 5 years to get RCV on a local ballot. Luckily, once it's on the ballot, voters tend to support it.


It often starts with one person (maybe you!) sitting at a kitchen table. But as you plug away, you gain allies, build a core team of volunteers, and eventually create a movement that your City Council cannot ignore. The impact? A permanently improved democracy for your neighbors and future generations.


The Winning Strategy

Our "RCV for Your City" program breaks the process down into manageable phases. Here is a glimpse of how we’ll help you win:


  1. Educate & Power Map: You don’t need to be a political scientist. We provide the slide decks, fact sheets, and "Power Mapping" tools to help you understand who holds influence in your city and how to reach them.

  2. Build Local Evidence: Every city has its own unique challenges with representation, turnout, fairness, election cost, etc. We help you look at past local results to show exactly how RCV would have solved specific problems in your community.

  3. Create a Consensus: This is the heart of the work. It’s about having coffees with community leaders, talking to community organizations, and engaging with allies like the League of Women Voters. It’s about building a coalition so strong that RCV becomes the obvious "common sense" choice.

  4. Engage City Hall: We provide training on the Brown Act (so you can navigate meetings like a pro) and help you approach city clerks and council members with confidence.


You Don't Have to Do It Alone

The most important rule of our program is this: If you feel blocked or frustrated, say something! Cal RCV provides a shared community and regular meetings where you can chat with coaches, get help with research, and connect with activists in other cities who are fighting the same battles. Whether you’re dealing with "it costs too much" objections or technical questions from your County Registrar, we have the battle-tested answers and the expert support to back you up.


Ready to Lead the Charge?

Your city is waiting for a better way to vote, and they’re waiting for someone to start the conversation. Why not you? Email us at info@calrcv.org and we'll get you connected with RCV for Your City volunteer coaches for an exploratory conversation.

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