-Choice It all comes down to the vote… Ranked-Choice Voting In Eureka

Hosted by… Mike Jones, Chris Kerrigan, And the Voter Confidence Committee

“[Power should be] immediately derived from the people in proportion to their numbers.” -James Madison

“[The representative assembly] should be in miniature an exact portrait of the people. It should be an equal representation, or, in other words, equal interests among the people should have equal interests in it. Great care should be taken to effect this.” - John Adams

Goals for Tonight’s Forum: Demonstrate that instant runoff voting (also called “preferential voting” and “ranked choice voting”) is a better system for voters and candidates. Demonstrate why a portion of all individuals’ and organizations’ time would be well-spent furthering voter confidence as a Secondary Mission.

Disclaimer We’re not implying dissatisfaction with current elected officials. RCV will not solve all election issues. –But it’s a great way to start!

Terminology Ward – a section of the city represented by a particular city council member. At-large Voting – where everyone in the city votes for the candidates in every ward, regardless of whether the voter resides in that ward. Plurality – The candidate with the most votes wins. Majority – 50%+1 of the votes.

Terminology Ranked-Choice Voting –Allows the voter to rank candidates in order of preference.

Ranked-Choice Voting Will Ensure That: No fear of “wasting” a vote on a likely loser. No vote spoils an election. All winners are elected with a majority. Voting focuses on the issues. Voters can vote for the candidates they like, without helping elect the candidates they don’t.

Voting is Important Because: It is the primary connection between those of us who choose to participate in our democracy and the government that defines the policy within which we all work and live.

A Voting System Should: Accurately reflect the values, wants, and needs of the voting populace. Elect candidates that represent the values of the majority of the voting populace.

A Voting System Should Also: allow the voter to express clearly their opinions of all candidates.

Does plurality… 1. allow the voter to express clearly their opinions of all candidates? 

Does plurality… 2. accurately reflect the values, wants, and needs of the voting populace? 

Does plurality… 3. elect candidates that represent the values of the majority of the voting populace? 

How does it work?

How Ranked-Choice Voting Works 1. Voters rank the candidates in order of preference.

How Ranked-Choice Voting Works 2. First-choices are tallied.

How Ranked-Choice Voting Works If no majority winner, it’s run-off time… (but without the extra election).

How Ranked-Choice Voting Works 3. Candidate with fewest number of votes is dropped. 4. That candidate’s votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates. 5. Repeat process until there is a majority winner.

From the Voter’s Perspective If your first choice candidate is eliminated, then your second choice is looked at… …until a candidate reaches a majority.

Interactive Demonstration The Ice-Cream Demo

Sample Mayoral Election Candidates: Annie Bob Carol Duane

Sample Mayoral Election 1.Voters vote by ranking the candidates. 2.First-choices are tallied.

Sample Election - Initial Vote Count First Choices

First Run-off Second Choices

Second (and final) Run-off Next-ranking choices 4456

Which is a Majority Annie wins with 56% of the vote. A majority

In Summary

How do the voters feel?

What about mayor-elect Annie?

Local Example: Last Mayoral Election Under Plurality Candidate LaVallee: 38.65% What about the other 61%?

We don’t really know…                             

Under Ranked-Choice Voting Had Mayor LaVallee won under RCV…. He would have won… with a majority.

Everyone is happy.

Does RCV have a track record? Does Ranked-Choice Voting have a track record?

Ranked-Choice Voting - Internationally Australia (Parliament) Ireland (President) London, England (Mayor)

Ranked Voting - Nationally Cambridge, MA (C.C.) Ferndale, MI (mayor & C.C.) Arkansas (military overseas absentee) Louisiana (overseas absentee) Burlington, VT (mayor

Ranked Voting - Organizations Major-League Baseball –MVP and Cy Young Awards College Football –Heisman Trophy Academy Awards Utah Republican Party American Political Science Association

Ranked-Choice Voting – California San Francisco Board of Supervisors Oakland (option for vacancy elections) Berkeley (when equipment ready for IRV elections) Santa Clara County (option established by voters)

Ranked-Choice Voting – Locally College of the Redwoods – Academic Senate

Summary of Benefits for Voters Lets the voter be explicitly clear. Voters need not worry about wasting their vote or spoiling an election. Voters know that the winner was elected with a majority. It’s as easy as “1, 2, 3.”

Summary of Benefits for Candidates It gives them the opportunity to get votes of opponents’ enthusiastic supporters. By encouraging candidates to reach out to their opponents’ supporters, it discourages negative campaigning. –This saves energy and money, and ensures that campaigns focus on the issues. Winners know they have the mandate of demonstrated majority support.

Summary of Benefits for the System No expensive run-off or primary elections, which always have poor voter turnout. Local government can save money in terms of campaign finance. Voter confidence increases and therefore voter turnout increases. Ideas are allowed to compete freely and fairly.

Summary of Benefits for the System Improves democracy

What’s After the Presentation? Open discussion on RCV facilitated by Council Members Chris Kerrigan and Mike Jones. Open discussion on any other election reform issues attendees wish to discuss. Present the winners of the Cartoon Election.

What can you, the voter, do? Encourage any organizations you belong to to use Ranked-Choice Voting for internal elections. Encourage them to take on voter confidence as a Secondary Mission, regardless of their Primary Mission.

What else? Get involved! Spend a little time each week supporting Ranked- Choice Voting and voter confidence. –What’s the least you can do? Do it! –Tell local elected officials you support voter confidence. –Contact the Voter Confidence Committee for more ideas.

After all It all comes down to the vote After all…

From Chris, Mike, and the Voter Confidence Committee… Thank you so much for your time!

Contact Information voterconfidencecommittee.org