Is Ranked Choice Voting Confusing? Or is it as easy as 1 * 2 * 3 ? Mar 15, 2024 Here's a hint: it's really just that easy. And ranking more never hurts your first choice. As we’ve talked to folks in Santa Clara County, they sometimes ask if Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is confusing. The data and research does not back that up. In fact, when New York City first used RCV in an election in 2021, exit polls showed that 83% of voters ranked 2 or more candidates on their ballot, and 95% of voters said that they found the RCV ballot easy to complete regardless of age, race, education, income level, or language spoken. The NYC ballot was in 31 different languages! (For exit polls from other jurisdictions, see here . How about mistakes on the ballot? RCV has been used in elections around the world since the late 1800’s. The national data shows no statistically significant difference in mistakes on RCV ballots and non-RCV ballots. Voters of Santa Clara County are incredibly smart! We are not easily fooled by claiming RCV is “confusing”. It’s insulting to claim that the voters of Santa Clara County will be confused by RCV because we cannot rank our preferences. The Bay area is home to loyal baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey fans – of course we know how to determine “first, second, and third place”. Backed by data and research, RCV is a straightforward way to vote that brings out the best in the voters and the candidates. It’s TIME to adopt it here in Santa Clara County. All News & Updates

Learn how Proportional Ranked Choice Voting eliminates gerrymandering, preserves voter choice, and keeps elections fair for everyone. Proposition 50 and the Deeper Problem: How to End Gerrymandering for Good How Proportional Ranked Choice Voting eliminates gerrymandering, preserves voter choice, and keeps elections fair for everyone. California's Conversation About Fair Representation With Proposition 50 now passed, California has entered a new phase in the long-running debate over gerrymandering and fair representation. Prop 50 temporarily hands redistricting power back to the Legislature—allowing elected officials to draw new congressional maps—after years of maps drawn by independent commissions. Supporters argued it was a necessary response to partisan gerrymanders in states like Texas. Critics warned it risked repeating the same mistakes. Either way, one thing is clear: as long as elections are built around single-winner districts, the fight over who draws the lines will never end. The Core Problem When politicians control how district lines are drawn, they can effectively choose their voters instead of voters choosing them. Even when well-intentioned, independent redistricting commissions can be pressured or captured by partisan interests. The incentives to interfere are enormous—control of Congress can hinge on just a few boundary changes. That’s why every redistricting cycle, across the country, devolves into another round of “gerrymandering wars.” The Systemic Solution: Proportional Ranked Choice Voting Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PRCV) changes the incentives entirely. Instead of fighting over maps, it makes district lines irrelevant by ensuring representation reflects how people actually vote. How it works: Voters rank candidates in order of preference. Multiple representatives are elected in each larger district. Seats are allocated in proportion to the votes cast. If 60% of voters lean one way and 40% another, each side elects roughly that share of representatives. What this means: Gerrymandering becomes ineffective — no one can draw away someone's fair share. Every voter helps elect a representative they support. Representation mirrors the diversity of California's communities and views. At the national level, the Fair Representation Act would apply this model to congressional elections, eliminating gerrymandering from federal elections once and for all. Because it would apply across all 50 states, there would be no more tit-for-tat redrawing to advantage one party or the other. What Real Fairness Looks Like Under PRCV, fairness isn't about which party draws the maps—it's about making every voice count. Conservative voters in deep-blue coastal areas would help elect candidates who share their values Progressive and independent voters in rural counties would have a voice in regions now represented only by Republicans Communities of color could reliably elect candidates of choice without needing special district carve-outs Lawmakers would represent broader coalitions of voters—not just their party's safest districts In short: PRCV protects representation for everyone, permanently. How PRCV Ends Gerrymandering's Grip PRCV eliminates gerrymandering incentives by shrinking the number of district lines to draw and making remaining boundaries irrelevant. Seats are awarded proportionally within each district, so the gerrymandering tactics of packing or cracking fail to skew results. In multi-member setups, every district becomes competitive, as parties and independents earn fair shares regardless of map shapes. A Proven System, Ready for California Proportional Ranked Choice Voting isn't theoretical—it's been successfully used for over 100 years in countries like Ireland, Australia, and Malta. In the United States, Portland, Oregon adopted PRCV in 2022 with 58% voter support. Cambridge, Massachusetts has used it successfully for decades. Research demonstrates PRCV's benefits: Over 90% of voters help elect one of their top three choices Women and people of color gain better representation Voter turnout increases by 5-7 percentage points Districts become more competitive and elections more meaningful Communities of color secure fair representation without relying solely on majority-minority districts Leading political scientists support this reform, with over 200 scholars signing an open letter calling winner-take-all single-member districts "fundamentally broken" and advocating for proportional representation in multi-member districts. The Fair Representation Act, introduced in Congress, would implement this system for the U.S. House of Representatives. California has already led the nation in adopting Ranked Choice Voting for local elections, with cities around the state using single-winner RCV or PRCV. The next step—expanding to proportional systems for state and federal offices—would give California the most representative, gerrymandering-proof elections in the nation. The California RCV Institute is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization. We did not take a position for or against Proposition 50. Our mission is to educate the public about voting systems that promote fair representation and stronger democracy. STAY UPDATED Join our email list to: Learn how PRCV and other voting reforms work Discover what communities across California are doing to expand fair voting systems Stay informed about opportunities to bring voting reform to your city and our state and federal elections Access research, educational resources, and tools to share with your community

Fund our educational efforts to engage voters, elected officials, and diverse communities about Ranked Choice Voting. Help us spread the word about Ranked Choice Voting. Your donation powers the Cal RCV Institute's ability to educate vo ters, elected officials, candidates, and election administrators about Ranked Choice Voting. And when people learn about RCV, they overwhelmingly support it. The movement to expand Ranked Choice Voting across California is sustained by individual donors like you. Every dollar helps, but a monthly recurring contribution turbocharges our effectiveness because it lets us plan our budget throughout the year. The California RCV Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, making donations made on this page fully tax-deductible. To donate via a donor-advised fund or via an employer matching program, refer to our tax ID (EIN) 26-0560601. Some organizations may still have a previous name, Fairvote California, on file. Donate ( t ax-deductible) Frequently Asked Questions The California RCV Institute Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal Tax ID #26-0560601). Gifts to the Cal RCV Institute are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. What will my donation support? Your donation supports our small team of staff and our operational costs. We are a very lean organization with no offices and minimal overhead, so every dollar you contribute goes a long way to supporting our mission of educating California voters, elected officials, candidates, and election administrators about the benefits of Ranked Choice Voting. Is my donation secure? Your donation payment information is processed via EveryAction, a secure donation platform used by thousands of nonprofits. Can I change or cancel my recurring donation? Yes, you can view your giving history, edit payment info, and change or cancel donations via the Cal RCV donor portal . Are there other ways to give? Yes! If you'd like to donate from a Donor Advised Fund, you can direct donations to the California RCV Institute, Federal Tax ID #26-0560601. California RCV Institute's mailing address is 30025 Alicia Parkway Suite 699, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. Other questions? Reach out to our fundraising team at fundraising@calrcv.org .

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

LA Charter Reform Commission Considers Council Expansion, Proportional Ranked-Choice Voting, and Election Cost Savings Nov 10, 2025 LA Charter Review Commission may recommend overhauling council elections with proportional ranked-choice voting, aiming for cost savings and fairer representation The LA Charter Reform Commission is weighing a major shift: expanding the City Council and swapping out the current election system for proportional ranked-choice voting (PRCV). This reform could eliminate costly, low-turnout runoffs and make council races more competitive and inclusive, all while stretching public campaign funds further. With data showing nearly a third of candidates now need almost twice as much city matching funds when advancing to runoffs, switching to PRCV would consolidate elections into a single round—potentially saving millions, especially as council seats multiply. Reform advocates note that more candidates and races will stress the city’s campaign fund, but PRCV could streamline spending and keep public financing sustainable as the city grows. Link to the full article: https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/31789-la-charter-reform-commission-considers-council-expansion-proportional-ranked-choice-voting-and-election-cost-savings All News & Updates

Adopting RCV would double turnout among voters of color in Santa Clara County and San Jose Mar 23, 2022 Moving to Ranked Choice Voting would eliminate "contingent runoff" elections, which currently reduces turnout among people of color "As ranked choice voting (RCV) grows in popularity across the country, FairVote has studied how it can improve voter turnout by combining two-round elections into a single higher-turnout instant runoff contest." "Primary turnout tends to be significantly lower than general election turnout so the choices made in primary elections reflect the preferences of a smaller group of voters, creating less representative outcomes and denying a strong governing mandate to elected officials." "Across the four elections studied in San Jose and Santa Clara County, voter turnout is highest among White voters in both primary and general elections. However, voters of color have a larger increase than White voters going into the general election. Turnout among voters of color doubles in the general election, while White turnout increases by only 1.5 times." Read the study summary at https://fairvote.org/case_study_contingent_runoffs_in_san_jose_exacerbate_racial_turnout_gap/ All News & Updates

Join City of Anitoch volunteers and supporters to help bring ranked choice voting to the City of Antioch elections. City of Antioch One of the most basic principles of democracy is majority rule, but guess what? Antioch does not have majority rule! Join City of Antioch volunteers and supporters of ranked choice voting and help bring RCV to our local elections Single-choice voting is breaking our country, our state, and our cities. It incentivizes negative campaigning that further divides us, reduces representation with low-turnout primaries and runoffs, and costs taxpayers millions in unnecessary election costs. 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. Let's work together to bring RCV to our local elections in the City of Antioch for various city and county elections! Good Get on the list No commitment — get emails (and texts, if you want) with upcoming events and action alerts. Subscribe Better Help fund our 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

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

Sign up as a supporter of the California Ranked Choice Voting Coalition to make our elections better. Become a supporter Ranked Choice Voting upgrades our voting system to reduce divisiveness, increase diversity, and save money. Sign up as a supporter Signing up helps the movement for better elections in many ways: Shows your suppo rt for fixing our broken elections Politicians pay more attention to large movements Funders give more money to popular causes You'll be invited to Cal RCV meetings and events You'll be able to take action!

After fumbling last year’s elections, Alameda County’s voting office gets a new watchdog Jun 7, 2023 Cal RCV co-founder Jim Lindsay has been appointed to the Elections Commission Cal RCV worked in coalition with a number of voting rights and good government groups to advocate for Alameda County to form an Elections Commission to oversee the registrar of voters and help avoid future errors with the elections process. Thanks to Cal RCV's supporters (who turned out for public comment at multiple Board of Supervisors meetings), the coalition's efforts, and the leadership of County Supervisor Keith Carson, the commission was established in June, 2023. We're proud to be part of the effort to ensure all elections -- not just Ranked Choice elections -- are conducted correctly and transparently. Read the Oaklandside's coverage of the new commission at https://oaklandside.org/2023/06/07/new-election-commission-alameda-county-voting-ranked-choice/ All News & Updates

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Redondo Beach Votes to Enact Ranked Choice Voting Mar 8, 2023 Cal RCV's campaign succeeds as the first city in Los Angeles County chooses the Instant Runoff method of voting First City in Los Angeles County to Choose the Instant Runoff Method of Voting Redondo Beach, California - The voters of Redondo Beach have spoken and have chosen to implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for the city's elections, with election night results showing 77% in favor of Ballot Measure CA 5. Also known as Instant Runoff Voting, RCV allows voters to rank their choice of candidates on the ballot and eliminates the need for a runoff election while still ensuring a majority of voters pick each winner. RCV has been gaining momentum as a preferred voting system across the United States because it addresses many issues with traditional voting systems. Redondo Beach voters chose to implement RCV for the following reasons: Saves money for taxpayers: By eliminating costly runoff elections, the city will save a significant amount of money. The city’s 2013 runoff election cost nearly $300,000. Gives voters more choices: With RCV, voters have more options to choose from as they can rank their preferred candidates. This allows voters to express their preferences more accurately. Increases voter participation: RCV encourages more voter participation as voters are more engaged in the process, leading to more informed decisions and a higher voter turnout. Reduces negative campaigning: RCV creates an environment where negative campaigning is not as effective, and candidates are encouraged to focus on issues and solutions. “Voters using RCV in Oakland, San Francisco, San Leandro, Albany, Berkeley, and Palm Desert say RCV is simple and they want to continue using it. This system encourages candidates to focus on issues instead of uncivil attacks on their opponents in hopes of becoming your second choice” according to Redondo Beach Councilmember Laura Emdee, who wrote the argument in favor of Ballot Measure CA 5. “Redondo Beach voted overwhelmingly for better elections,” said Tom Charron, Co-founder of the California RCV Coalition, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, volunteer organization working to expand RCV across the Golden State. “Instead of expensive, low-turnout, and unrepresentative runoffs, RCV will give voters more choice and more voice in a single election. This is also a major step forward for RCV in California, as Redondo Beach becomes the first city in Southern California to vote for this better election method.” By choosing RCV, Redondo Beach voters have taken a significant step towards a more inclusive and democratic voting system. RCV is the fastest-growing nonpartisan voting reform in the nation and has now grown to 64 states, cities, and counties reaching approximately 16 million Americans across the nation. All News & Updates