Voter Turnout Flounders in Sacramento Primaries Nov 28, 2023 "Sacramento, California has a voter turnout problem. Turnout in its primaries is much lower than in its general elections, and the primary electorate is less representative of Sacramento’s population – underrepresenting young voters and renters. Sacramento could join other California cities, and solve this problem by consolidating its elections into a single, high-turnout contest with ranked choice voting." Our friends at FairVote published new research on the voter turnout gap in Sacramento's primaries at https://fairvote.org/voter-turnout-flounders-in-sacramento-primaries/ Learn more about the efforts to fix this primary problem using Ranked Choice Voting at http://www.betterballotsacramento.org/ All News & Updates

Ranked Choice Voting is proven to increase diversity among elected officials (especially women and people of color), decrease negative campaigning, and save money. Learn About Ranked Choice Voting Ranked choice voting, known as RCV, is a simple reform that can lead to significant benefits for our cities, state, and country. It's a commonsense upgrade from the broken single-choice voting approach that favors entrenched interests and underlies so much political dysfunction. It's straightforward: RCV lets you rank candidates 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on instead of being forced to choose just one. If your first choice can’t win, your vote automatically transfers to your second choice. How Ranked Choice Voting Works Video courtesy of Cal RCV partner Democracy Rising Here 's ho w it works: We all vote just like we do in single-choice elections, except with RCV, we get to rank candidates in order of preference. We ran k things all the time in our everyday lives. Ranking candidates comes easily and naturally. Because it's new, researchers have asked voters how well they understand RCV after they use it, and people consistently say they understand RCV and want to use it again. To start, everyone’s first choices are tallied. If a candidate gets a majority (50% + one vote), then that candidate wins. This upholds the principle of majority rules. When we’re selecting one candidate for office (like mayor or governor) the most fair and representative outcome is that they need to earn more than half of the votes to win. (In single-choice voting, a majority winner isn’t required, so someone could win with just 20% or 30% as long as no one else got more votes.) If no candidate gets a majority of the first-choice votes, then the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Voters who ranked that candidate as their first choice have their vote instantly transferred to their second choice. If your favorite candidate can’t win, you still get a voice! If you’ve ranked someone second, your vote gets transferred to them immediately. You still have power in the election. After the votes are instantly transferred, if a candidate has a majority, they win. If no one gets a majority of votes, the process is repeated. This instant runoff process happens automatically, on election night, without voters having to come back and fill out another ballot like with single-choice runoff elections. Why make this change? Aren’t our elections running just fine? No – single-choice elections most definitely are not running just fine. Our politics are dangerously polarized, people feel like their votes don’t matter, and our elected officials don’t actually represent the communities they’re supposed to. These are the results of our antiquated, unfair, and easily-gamed single-choice voting system. It's time to demand better elections. STAY UPDATED on efforts to put RCV on the ballot across California. Sign up for Cal RCV emails Try Ranked Choice Voting Try it for yourself! Rank one or more California destinations, click submit, then view the preliminary results to see who won and how everyone's votes are tallied. Proportional Ranked Choice Voting RCV, as explained above, is ideal for single-winner elections. We also have positions that are held by many people – think of city councils, the state legislature in Sacramento, and Congress in Washington DC. What’s the most fair way to choose the people who make up those legislative bodies? It should be proportional to the constituency it represents. That’s where proportional ranked choice voting (PRCV) comes in. Also known as multi-winner RCV, this system uses the same ranked ballot approach as single-winner RCV and has all the same benefits you've seen so far. But crucially, it adds the concept of proportional representation. Proportional representation is the gold standard of representative democracy. It means that a legislature should reflect all of the voters who elect them. Like-minded voters should be able to elect representatives in proportion to their number. Here's how Proportional RCV (PRCV) works: Just like with single-winner RCV explained above, we get to rank candidates in order of preference. Picking candidates in a multi-winner race (for example, voting to fill multiple seats on a city council) is exactly the same process for voters: we rank one, or two, or three, or more of the candidates each of us likes. Instead of requiring a majority (50%+1) of votes, winning candidates need to meet a minimum threshold based on how many seats are available. Simple math determines the minimum threshold: it's the percent of votes above which it's mathematically impossible for a candidate to lose. It's one over the number of seats being run for plus one . So an election for three city council seats requires 1 / (3 + 1) = 2 5% (plus 1) of the total votes cast in order for a candidate to earn one of the seats. 4 seats would have a 20% threshold, and so on. Note that PRCV upholds the principle of major ity rules: a majority of the people pick a majority of the winners, but PRCV stops the "tyranny of the majority" because it ensures that people in the minority still get representation. If a district is 60% Democratic, 3 of the 5 winners would likely be Democrats. Conversely, if a district is 60% Republican, we would expect 3 of the 5 winners to be Republicans. If 20% of voters are independent, 1 of the 5 representatives would probably be independent. On election night, everyone’s first choices are tallied. If a candidate achieves the minimum threshold, then that candidate wins. But because we are electing multiple people, we don't stop after the first winner is declared. Next, if the leading candidate earned more than enough votes (over the threshold), all the people who voted for that candidate get to have a proportional share of their second-choice vote counted to determine additional winners (instead of "throwing out" those surplus votes). This allows voters to be more fully represented by their choices, in proportion to their percent of the voting population. Fewer votes are wasted. The calculation itself is complex, but it's done instantly -- on election night -- using certified tabulation software employing clearly documented algorithms. Minnesota Public Radio has a great explainer video . Then, if no more candidates have enough votes to get elected, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and all votes for that candidate are transferred to those voters’ next choices. So all the people who ranked a losing candidate highly also still get their votes counted as much as possible. Just because you ranked someone who couldn't win first doesn't mean you shouldn't still get a vote for the second, third, and so on winners in a multi-winner race. But wait — we usually vote for one person per district. T hat's right. In many cities and for the Assembly, State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, there are single-member districts with winner-take-all elections. To achieve proportional representation, we need to change the law and create fewer, larger 3 to 5 member districts, and use PRCV to proportionally elect each "megadistrict's" representatives. As people experience the benefits it offers, the number of people voting with RCV has been skyrocketing, with more than 20 million Americans living in communities that use RCV. And it’s being adopted in more and more places. In California, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland , and San Leandro have been using RCV for over a decade. The people of Albany started using Proportional RCV in 2022, and Eureka, Ojai , and Redondo Beach voted for RCV and will begin using it in upcoming elections. Maine and Alaska use RCV for their statewide elections, and dozens of other cities around the country use it too. We’ve got a lot of data on how it performs in California, across the country, and around the world, and the evidence is strong that it makes for a more representative and effective government. Spread the Word Frequently Asked Questions Why change the way we vote? Changing from single-choice voting to Ranked Choice Voting makes elections fairer, less divisive, more representative, and less expensive than running multiple elections to select a majority winner. Ranked Choice Voting has been in the United States for decades. There are no barriers to Ranked Choice Voting under federal law or the U.S. Constitution and it is widely used in cities and states and across the political spectrum. How does the vote tallying work? In single-winner races, if no one gets more than 50%, RCV allows an “instant run-off” to occur automatically. After everyone’s first-choice votes are counted, whoever is in last place is eliminated and votes are counted again. If your first choice gets eliminated, your vote goes to your next choice. It’s just like an in-person runoff: if your favorite doesn’t make the runoff, you have to choose someone else – your next favorite. But with RCV, it’s instant, without the expense and hassle of voting again. Rinse and repeat until someone gets a majority (more than 50%) of the votes. In multi-winner races (for example, an at-large city council), Proportional Ranked Choice Voting works like single-winner RCV but with one key addition: instead of one candidate winning with a majority of the votes, several candidates win with smaller shares. It’s straightforward for voters: Rank candidates in order of choice. Voters can rank as many candidates as they want, without fear that doing so will hurt their favorite candidate’s chances. Ranking backup choices will never hurt a voter’s favorite candidate. Candidates who receive a certain share of votes — the “threshold” — are elected based on the number of open seats. For example, if there are three seats to fill, any candidate who gets more than 25% of the vote earns a seat. Excess votes (those above the threshold) are then counted for the voters’ second choices, ensuring that no votes are wasted. After excess votes are distributed, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Votes for the defeated candidate are then allocated to voters’ second choice candidate. Rinse and repeat until all seats are filled. Why should I rank the candidates? More choice = more power! Even if your favorite candidate doesn’t win, you still have a say in who’s elected. You can vote your conscience without worrying that you’re wasting your vote or helping a candidate you don’t like. Ranking a 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice will never hurt your favorite candidate. Do I have to rank all the candidates? It’s up to you how many candidates to rank. Your vote is most powerful if you rank multiple candidates, but your vote will still count if you only rank one or a couple of candidates. If you choose not to rank multiple, you have no backup choices when your top candidate(s) are defeated. But your vote still counts if you only rank one candidate. It’s up to you how many candidates to rank. Your vote is most powerful if you rank multiple candidates, but your vote will still count if you only rank one or two candidates. If you choose not to rank multiple candidates, you have no backup choices if your top candidate(s) are defeated. (It’s the same as abstaining from a runoff and staying home). But your vote still counts if you only rank one candidate, for as long as they remain “alive” in the race. What can you do to get RCV across California? Good Get on the list No commitment — get emails (and texts, if you want) with upcoming events and action alerts. Join the Mailing List Better Help fund our work Increase your impact! A financial commitment of any size significantly increases the weight of your support. Donate Now Best Get Involved Join an intro meeting and find out how you can volunteer and bring RCV to your area and the entire state. RSVP for Intro Meeting

Apply to serve on the Board of Directors of the California RCV Institute (501(c)(3)) or California RCV Coalition (501(c)(4)) nonprofit organizations. Board of Directors Application Position Description Cal RCV is a nonprofit organization that works to make our elections more representative by promoting Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). We seek board members who will bring their talents, passion for democracy, respect and empathy for others, and commitment to lifting up the voices of all Californians. What you can expect as a Cal RCV board member: You will work with a dynamic group of like-minded leaders who are working to improve democracy in California. You will play a key part in supporting and evaluating the executive director (or hiring when applicable), ensuring that the organization always has strong leadership and vision. You will work together with other board members to develop plans and strategies that will shape the programming, finance, and overall direction of the organization. You will learn and share knowledge about Ranked Choice Voting and the elections landscape of California. You’ll help ensure that the organization has adequate financial resources to carry out our mission. This includes an annual “give or get” fundraising goal of at least $2,500. You will play a key role in overseeing the organization’s activities so that the board and staff are always compliant with any appropriate legal and ethical requirements. You can expect to volunteer 6-8 hours per month toward board activities. You will serve at least 1 full-year term on the board (up to a maximum of four terms). You have experience with one or more of the following: Networking relationships with electeds and/or nonprofit leaders in California Fundraising (for nonprofits and/or campaigns) Political & campaign strategy Grassroots movement building Volunteer organizing About the California RCV Institute & California RCV Coalition Cal RCV is made up of two affiliated nonprofit organizations: the California RCV Institute, a 501(c)(3) that works to make our elections more representative by educating voters, elected officials, candidates for office, and election administrators about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Together with the California RCV Coalition, an affiliated 501(c)(4), which promotes RCV by lobbying and campaigning for ballot measures enacting RCV. We seek board members who will bring their talents, passion for democracy, respect and empathy for others, and their commitment to lifting up the voices of all Californians. Learn more about us . Does this sound like you? If you are interested in this opportunity please complete the application below and we’ll be in touch to get to know you better! Cal RCV Board Member Application First Name Last Name Email Phone ZIP Code Are you interested in joining our 501c3 board, 501c4 board, or either? Choose an option Please briefly describe your academic and professional background, and other relevant experience. Why do you seek a position on the board? Please briefly outline the specific skills you bring, or contributions you hope to make, to the board. Have you served on any nonprofit boards now or in the past? If so, which one(s)? Please provide your LinkedIn profile or upload your resume/CV. LinkedIn Profile Upload Resume Upload file (Max 15MB) APPLY Thanks for applying! We'll be in touch with you within 48 hours.

We would love to hear from you Reach out to us with press inquiries or for other information and we'll be in touch. Fill out the form, email info@calrcv.org , or leave us a voice message at (415) 687-2997. Our staff and volunteers are located throughout the state, but our mailing addresses for donations and official correspondence are: California RCV Institute 30025 Alicia Parkway Suite 699 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 California RCV Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization California RCV Coalition 30025 Alicia Parkway Suite 698 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 California RCV Coalition is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization Contact Cal RCV

Learn how Santa Clara County can benefit by switching to ranked choice voting for its elections. Santa Clara County Santa Clara County — the home of Silicon Valley — uses outdated voting methods that result in poor turnout, unrepresentative primaries, and less choice. Moving to Ranked Choice Voting will help increase turnout, yield more equitable outcomes, and give voters more choice and more voice! Poll: 64% of Santa Clara County residents support ranked choice voting A December 2023 EMC Research poll finds that 64% of likely 2024 voters in Santa Clara County support using ran ked choice voting (RCV) in countywide and local elections. This represents significant growth in support since 54% of county voters voted for RCV in county elections by approving Measure F in 1998 . Download Poll Memo Download printable flyer Good Get on the list No commitment — get emails (and texts, if you want) with upcoming events and action alerts. Subscribe Better Help fund Cal RCV's work Increase your impact! A financial commitment of any size significantly increases the weight of your support. Donate Now Best Meet Us & Get Involved Join an upcoming Zoom to learn more about RCV and how you can get involved (it's easy!). Join an Intro Meeting

Cal RCV Strategy Meeting - August 2024 Aug 21, 2024 Cal RCV supporters heard from Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, about the RCV rollout in NYC Cal RCV's August 2024 Statewide Meeting was electric! Get updates on cities all over California that are making RCV a reality. Hear from Susan Lerner , executive director of Common Cause New York, about her electoral reform journey, the RCV rollout in NYC, and more. City-Specific Updates Included: Santa Clara County by David Newswanger Richmond by Alex Banash Oakland by Marcela Miranda-Cabllero Carlsbad by Reese Harris Redondo Beach by Tom Charron Watch the recording All News & Updates

Politicians shouldn't get to pick their opponents. Read our Op-ed in the LA Times. Mar 8, 2024 Opinion: Steve Garvey’s strange win is a loss for California election reform. Here’s the solution. Read Cal RCV's and FairVote's Op-ed in the LA Times on March 8, 2024: Opinion: Steve Garvey’s strange win is a loss for California election reform. Here’s the solution "Why did the Burbank Democrat spend a small fortune boosting Garvey’s name recognition and blanketing the airwaves with ads that touted the former first baseman’s conservative credentials? You might call it a squeeze play: Schiff wanted to keep his two closest Democratic competitors out of the fall race, and he succeeded. Garvey claimed the second-highest vote total in the top-two primary, while Democratic Reps. Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland finished in third and fourth, leaving them out of the running. This is a classic example of a problem that could be solved by ranked-choice voting, a tested, nonpartisan reform that discourages this sort of gamesmanship and more accurately represents what a majority of voters want." All News & Updates

Don’t let Oakland hiccup slow ranked-choice voting momentum Dec 30, 2022 Programming error shouldn’t sway Bay Area from using system that strengthens principle of majority rule The San Jose Mercury News Editorial Board writes: "Voters like it because it saves the cost of a primary election while also giving them much greater say in who is elected. Under the current system, a candidate can win with only 20%-30% of the vote, meaning a majority of voters did not choose the winner. Ranked-choice voting diminishes the chances of extremist candidates who appeal to a small slice of voters. It also encourages voters to research every candidate on the ballot. Those are advantages that every California voter should support." Read the full article at: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/12/30/editorial-dont-let-oakland-hiccup-slow-ranked-choice-voting-momentum/ All News & Updates

New Bill Could Allow Ranked Choice Voting in Santa Clara County May 10, 2023 Cal RCV has worked to introduce a new state bill from two Silicon Valley legislators that could put Santa Clara County one step closer to adopting ranked choice voting “Ranked choice voting encourages more clarity and cooperation among candidates that elevates the quality of the debate and lessens the vitriol and personal attacks that is far too commonplace during campaigns,” [Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee] said in a statement. “Additionally, less well-known or financially funded candidates may have a better chance of getting elected.” Read the full article at https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/10/new-bill-could-allow-ranked-choice-voting-in-santa-clara-county/ All News & Updates

Learn about the people that power California's Ranked Choice Voting movement -- a diverse group of advocates working to bring RCV to all of California. Leadership Marcela Miranda-Prieto Executive Director Jim Bartell Board Member Guy Cammilleri Board Member Tom Charron Board Member Kate De Jong Board Member Rey Lopez-Calderon Board Member June Genis Board Member Amari Mcgaha Board Member Jessica Montgomery Board Member Andrea St. Julian Board Member Arash Sayadi Board Member Althea Skinner Board Member David Wilner Board Member Volunteers Cal RCV is powered by the passion of hundreds of volunteers across the Golden State. Here are just a few. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Join a Zoom Intro Meeting

Richmond City Council Moves Forward with Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Measure May 1, 2024 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. "The Richmond City Council advanced a proposed ranked choice ballot measure to be added to the 2024 General Election ballot after a presentation at a special meeting Tuesday night. Marcela Miranda-Caballero, California Ranked Choice Voting Executive Director, said instant runoff voting has become the fastest-growing non-partisan voting reform in the nation, with more than 11 million voters having voted with ranked ballots in the US since 2004. Rank choice proponents say the process will lead to more representative and equitable outcomes with more women and candidates of color elected. “In the Bay Area, there are four cities that currently have 61 percent of their elected offices held by people of color. Before [RCV] that was 38 percent,” Miranda-Caballero said. “Oakland has never elected a woman mayor in its 160-year history before [RCV]. Now that it has [RCV] it’s elected three women in a row as mayor.” Read the full article at https://www.grandviewindependent.com/council-moves-forward-with-ranked-choice-voting-ballot-measure/ All News & Updates

Join local Carlsbad volunteers and supporters to help bring ranked choice voting to our elections. Carlsbad One of the most basic principles of democracy is majority rule, but guess what: Carlsbad does not have majority rule. Our city leaders can be elected with less than 50% support with the current single-choice plurality voting system. Join residents of Carlsbad and a coalition of community and electoral reform groups as we build awareness of ranked choice voting. Help bring RCV to our local elections! Single-choice plurality voting is breaking our country, our state, and our cities. It incentivizes negative campaigning that further divides us, it limits voters’ choice by motivating parties to tell candidate hopefuls it’s “not their turn,” and it seats elected officials who have less than a majority of the vote. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a simple but powerful improvement. RCV lets you rank candidates 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on instead of being forced to choose just one. If your first choice can’t win, your vote automatically transfers to your second choice. Learn more about RCV . Volunteer with Cal RCV and our coalition partners to bring RCV to our local elections in Carlsbad! RCV for Carlsbad Coalition Partners