(Editorial in the Daily Breeze) Local agencies can spend less on elections because the primary and runoff occur simultaneously, which would mean less voter fatigue.

The last two elections supervised by the Los Angeles City Clerk's Office produced dismally low turnouts. Only 10 percent of registered voters took part in the March primary election, and the May runoff election drew only about 7 percent.

The problem isn't unique to the city of Los Angeles. Many local elections in the South Bay seem to attract fewer and fewer voters.

A timely hearing held this week in the city of L.A. focused needed attention on ways to improve voter turnout. One of the possible reforms is instant-runoff voting, which has been successful in cities like San Francisco.

In most jurisdictions, one can select one candidate per elected position. If there are many candidates vying for one or two positions, that usually means a runoff election is necessary for a candidate to secure a majority.

Under the instant runoff system, however, voters can rank candidate preferences (first choice, second choice and so on). If a candidate wins a majority in the first-choice category, he wins outright. But if no candidate wins a majority, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and his voters' second choices are added to the tally. Gradually, less popular candidates are eliminated until a candidate wins a majority of preferences.

The concept might be confusing at first, but it has advantages. These advantages include:

Cost. Local agencies can spend less on elections because the primary and runoff occur simultaneously.

Democracy. Supporters say that using preferences is more democratic than, say, city council elections which allow some candidates to win with 25 percent pluralities - or less.

Less voter fatigue. Some observers suggest that so many special elections have been held in California in recent years that voters are staying away from the polls. If that's true, instant runoffs would reduce the strain and increase turnouts.

More positive campaigns. The theory is that candidates would be less inclined to go negative in order to do well in the second-choice category. So the emphasis would be less on personalities and more an issues.

We're not saying that instant runoffs are right for every jurisdiction. But as Debra Bowen, the secretary of state and former South Bay state senator, said recently, instant runoffs could be ideal in races such as this month's 37th Congressional District election, which has a field of 17 candidates.

Charter cities can now use the instant runoff system, but state legislation would be required to extend this choice to general law cities and other jurisdictions. Simply put, public agencies need such options to improve voter turnout and to strengthen democratic institutions.