A look at Ranked Choice Voting for Sacramento Dec 15, 2024 With Josh Rosa of Better Ballot Sacramento “Our guest today, Josh Rosa, is on the Steering Committee of Better Ballot Sacramento , an organization promoting adoption of Ranked Choice Voting in Sacramento… We chat about the various types of RCV and look at the pros and cons of the system.” Listen to the podcast at https://capitolweekly.net/a-look-at-ranked-choice-voting-with-josh-rosa/ All News & Updates

Santa Clara County committee says ranked choice voting saves money Dec 31, 2025 Ranked choice voting can save money for local governments and for candidates by eliminating the need for primary elections “‘Ranked choice voting can save money for local governments and for candidates by eliminating the need for primary elections,’ reads a December report to the Santa Clara County Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Elections. ‘As an example, (ranked choice voting) may have eliminated the cost of the Assessor runoff election scheduled for Dec. 2025.’” https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-county-committee-says-ranked-choice-voting-saves-money/ All News & Updates

Cal RCV & Level Up California Co-Host Panel Discussion with Andrew Yang, Rob Richie, and Maria Perez Feb 9, 2022 Andrew Yang, Rob Richie, and Maria Perez joined moderator Tom Charron of the California RCV Coalition to discuss the state of voting in California and our nation as a whole. On Wednesday, February 9th, our panelists joined moderator Tom Charron of the California RCV Coalition to discuss the state of voting in California and our nation as a whole. Ranked Choice Voting provides a unique opportunity to increase voter choice at the ballot box and discourage the divisive political practices that have become standard in American politics. Our three panelists have unique insight into the problems with our current elections system and a passion for solving the crisis of America's ever-deepening political divide. Watch the event on YouTube: 00:00 - Intro 07:30 - Intro to RCV & impact on candidates running for office 31:30 - RCV from voters' point of view 40:53 - More benefits, including cost savings 47:45 - The impact of RCV in California cities so far 59:01 - Increased representation of minority voices 1:04:09 - Multi-winner RCV to achieve proportional representation 1:17:10 - How RCV can be adopted at the statewide level in California 1:25:50 - How multi-winner RCV can help ensure voting rights Andrew Yang is an author, former presidential candidate, and non-profit founder. In 2021, Yang founded the Forward Party PAC , which has a focus on electoral reform. Rob Richie is the co-founder and CEO of FairVote , a non-profit advancing Ranked Choice Voting and Proportional Representation across the United States. He is a frequent contributor to publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Maria Perez is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Democracy Rising , an organization that promotes democratic engagement and representative, accountable leadership. Perez previously served as FairVote's New Mexico director. All News & Updates

Ranked choice voting could be hitting Long Beach next Jan 7, 2026 A group of Long Beach residents are working to change the city’s voting system to ranked choice voting “Along with council members and other City officials, Long Beach residents may see an item on the November 2026 ballot that would change how the city conducts its elections going forward. RCV (Ranked Choice Voting) in the LBC is a group of Long Beach residents passionate about civic engagement trying to change the city’s voting system to ranked choice voting.” https://sigtrib.com/ranked-choice-voting-could-be-hitting-long-beach-next/ All News & Updates

Does Ranked Choice Voting Increase Voter Turnout and Mobilization Sep 6, 2024 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. In a 2021 study, researchers from the RCV Resource Center, University of California, Davis, the University of Iowa, and Western Washington University examined voting behavior in over 10,000 cities. Controlling for various factors, they discovered that people in jurisdictions with RCV were more likely to vote . Voter participation in RCV areas was 12.8%, compared to 10.6% nationally—a 17% increase. This increase is notable, considering the 24% difference in voter participation between states with the most and least restrictive voting laws. Why the increase? Previous research suggests RCV leads to more civility and less negative campaigning. Candidates in RCV races report more positive campaigning and voter outreach efforts. Additionally, newspaper articles about RCV elections tend to be more positive. This study further explored RCV's impact on voter outreach. Using two national surveys, they found that voters in RCV cities were more likely to be contacted by campaigns, particularly through in-person visits, mail, and email. This suggests that RCV campaigns may favor more personalized outreach methods. You can read the complete study here: Does Ranked Choice Voting Increase Voter Turnout and Mobilization? - ScienceDirect All News & Updates

New developments in SF Supervisor races and a Defense of Ranked Choice Voting Sep 6, 2023 "I can’t write about San Francisco’s upcoming races without defending ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV is getting a lot of unfair criticism. I’d like to set the record straight." -- Randy Shaw, editor of BeyondChron "RCV replaced a system of low-turnout runoff elections. These turnouts were disproportionately decided by white homeowners. RCV is far more democratic. It also saves cities the cost of operating low-turnout runoff elections. The big rap against RCV by supporters of losing candidates? It’s too “confusing.” They point to seemingly odd RCV results—-like a candidate whose voters forego second place choices (See Ignacio de la Fuente, 2022 Oakland mayor’s race) or who send second place votes to a candidate of a different ideology (Nancy Tung voters went to Chesa Boudin over Suzy Loftus in San Francisco’s 2019 District Attorney’s race). But these outcomes made sense. de la Fuente drew votes heavily from those who only cared about him. Tung voters were angry at Mayor Breed for appointing Loftus to the temporary DA post and did not want to give Loftus their second place votes. I understand why people blame “confusion” instead of a campaign’s failure to strategically attract ranked choice votes. But candidates lacking a winning RCV strategy have only themselves to blame." Read the full article at https://beyondchron.org/new-developments-in-sf-supervisor-races/ All News & Updates

Santa Clara County puts ranked choice voting on back burner Apr 14, 2025 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. Read the full article at https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-county-puts-ranked-choice-voting-on-back-burner/ All News & Updates

Impact of Ranked Choice Voting on Representation Sep 15, 2017 National nonprofits that study electoral reform find that "RCV increases descriptive representation for women, people of color, and women of color." Key Findings from the report: More women and people of color in elected office. Since the introduction of RCV, women have won more than 40% of all contests, women of color have won almost a quarter of all contests and people of color have won 60 percent. People of color now hold 13 of the 18 seats in San Francisco elected by RCV, which is up from eight seats before RCV was adopted (although down from 15 of 18 seats after the 2010 RCV elections). Women won nine of 11 open seats in RCV elections in 2014, and, in Oakland, have gone from holding 10 seats after the 2008 elections to 13 seats today. More women and people of color are running and winning. In cities that introduced RCV, the percentage of candidates and winners among women, people of color, and women of color increased more (or declined less) than it did in a comparison group of similar cities that did not adopt RCV. Increase in the proportion of women in elected office. Our study of the effects of RCV shows that the introduction of RCV in California led to an increase in the proportion of women, and especially women of color, winning local political office. Increase in the percentage of people of color and women of color. RCV led to an increase in the percent of city council candidates who are people of color and women of color. These findings are robust and statistically significant. Our study controls for the impact of socio-economic factors (like educational attainment and the racial composition of the city), political factors (like partisanship and voter turnout), as well as electoral factors (incumbency and the use of term limits, and public financing). Read the 2-page brief or full report from FairVote & RepresentWomen. All News & Updates

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 $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.

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

More Choice, More Voice Mar 8, 2024 Ranked Choice Voting addresses the problem of low turnout primaries Happy post-election week! But is it happy? Santa Clara County voter turnout was abysmal! It’s looking to be the lowest in more than 10 years, hovering around 17% so far. As ballots are being counted the registrar hopes to get up to 30%. That means 70% of people didn’t vote! RCV fixes the low turnout problem by eliminating the primary and moving voting to one general election where voters can rank the candidates in order of their preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd , etc ). The result? MUCH higher and more representative turnout. California voter turnout is almost 30 percentage points higher in general elections, with a larger increase among Black, Latino, and Asian voters. Our neighboring cities of SF and Oakland have implemented RCV to replace two-round elections; the number of voters participating has increased dramatically -- for example, 50% more voters (41,000 people) cast a ballot in the 2022 Oakland mayoral race than in its last mayoral contest without RCV! All News & Updates

Get Involved with Your Local Efforts Are you interested in bringing RCV to your local city or county? We can help you by teaching you how to create the momentum and volunteer base necessary to do so. It'll take patience and lots of hard work, and it can be done. You can look for local efforts already underway, or contact us at info@calrcv.org to get started with your local city or county.