Instant Runoff Voting: Publications, Events and More

The Groundhog Day Election In Los Angeles

Ron Tang — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:22:00 -0400

After a fiercely fought primary election, no winner emerged in last week's election in the LA County Supervisor race between City Councilmember Bernard Parks and State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas. With barely one-sixth of all voters participating, millions of dollars spent, and a race that turned increasingly negative, neither Ridley-Thomas nor Parks could muster a majority (50 percent plus one) in the nine-candidate field. As a result, both candidates must now duke it out for another five months until the November general election -- leaving voters in the crossfire of more mudslinging and personal attacks.

According to some political consultants and politicians,… more

Top L.A. Labor Group Embraces Election Reform

Communications — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:29:00 -0400

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO has endorsed a critical reform for Los Angeles elections: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). The County Federation, the second largest chartered Labor Council of AFL-CIO in the country, represents over 350 unions and over 800,000 workers. Maria Elena Durazo, the County Federation’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer, noted that IRV would benefit voters, working families and taxpayers alike: “By saving millions of taxpayer dollars and relieving voter fatigue, IRV will benefit all of Los Angeles. We strongly urge the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa to put IRV on the… more

California State Controller John Chiang Endorses LA Election Reform

Communications — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:16:00 -0400

Los Angeles, CA -- California State Controller John Chiang has endorsed a critical election reform for Los Angeles: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Chiang, California's top fiscal officer and highest ranking Asian American elected official, announced his support at a City Hall panel discussion held today at Los Angeles City Hall's Bradley Tower.

Controller Chiang noted that IRV will help boost voter turnout by reducing voter fatigue: "I think part of the fatigue with the American electoral system is with the runoffs -- with the endless electoral cycles where people do not get time to govern and people don't get time to… more

New America Foundation in Ventura County Star | 'Decline-to-State Voters Need to Know They Have Options'

Communications — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:08:00 -0400

New America in the News:
...Some partisans scoff at the independent voters, saying that they "have no opinion or convictions." But, independent voters very often have a mix of beliefs and principles that don't completely fit into one party's mold. A study done at the New America Foundation shows that the independent voter is generally younger, male, college-educated, a fiscal conservative (willing to accept fewer government services in exchange for paying less in taxes), pro-choice, an environmentalist, pro-securing the border, and growing in numbers of minorities. Sounds like a pretty concerned, informed bloc of voters...LINK

Gautam Dutta on KPCC | ''Instant Runoff' Proposal Would Do Away With Some Runoff Elections in LA'

Communications — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:33:00 -0400

New America in the News:

The idea of "instant runoff" voting appears to be gaining steam in Los Angeles. The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and the League of Women Voters want change: a proposal would eliminate runoff elections in non-partisan races in several categories. KPCC's Frank Stoltze reports...

Gautam Dutta: Only six percent showed up to vote. In fact, in some precincts, nobody showed up to vote. That election cost five million dollars, and that's a cost of $40 per voter... LINK for audio and transcript

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting in Los Angeles

Communications — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
06/02/2008 - 12:00pm

On Monday, June 2nd, the New America Foundation's Political Reformr Program held an engaging panel discussion and luncheon on instant runoff voting (IRV) in Los Angeles.

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a critical electoral reform for the City of Los Angeles that allows voters to rank a first, second and third choice for each office. IRV elects majority winners in a single election without the expense and voter fatigue of a second election. IRV holds great promise to increase voter turnout while saving taxpayers $8 million dollars each election cycle (source: LA city clerk).

A broad coalition is coming together to support IRV, with endorsements from, amongst others, the League of Women Voters, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, labor unions, voting rights groups, neighborhood councils and political leaders like former Mayor Richard Riordan, labor leader Dolores Huerta, Anthony Thigpenn, and Antonio Gonzalez.

For more information about IRV in Los Angeles visit the website www.IRVinLA.org.

L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce Endorses Key Election Reform

Communications — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:55:00 -0400

Contact: Mr. Gautam Dutta, Esq. (213.480.0994; dutta@newamerica.net)

Los Angeles CA -- The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed a critical election reform: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, and key labor unions like UNITE HERE have also endorsed IRV.

"Instant Runoff Voting will create more competitive races, increase voter participation and eliminate costly runoff elections," said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "The L.A. Area Chamber strongly urges the City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa to put IRV on the ballot this… more

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting and Minorities in L.A.

Communications — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
04/19/2008 - 10:00am

Currently, Los Angeles' local elections run on a wasteful, two-round election system. Last May, only 6 percent of voters turned out for the runoff election for the Los Angeles Community College Districts -- an election that cost taxpayers $5 million, or $40 per voter. For this reason, the LA City Council is seriously considering Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) for local elections.

By combining the general and runoff election into 1 single election, IRV will save millions of taxpayer dollars and help raise voter turnout. IRV allows voters to rank their choices, in order of preference (1-2-3). This way, if your first choice cannot win, your vote will go to your next choice.

Please join the New America Foundation/Political Reform Program and the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable for an engaging discussion on political reform and its impact on communities of color.

Hungry for IRV

Political Reform — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:28:00 -0400

Letter to the Editor published in the Los Angeles Daily News, by Linda Suh

IRV - Instant runoff voting, or, as I like to call it, "immediate rescue (for) voting." L.A. currently suffers tremendously from its inefficient election method. For example, only 6 percent of registered voters voted in May.Only 6 percent!

That's like eating only a finger-width slice of grandma's delicious apple pie and throwing the rest away. All of her money she put into the pie - gone. All of her time and hard work - gone.

Instant runoff voting is a winner that saves money, eliminates… more

Letter: Improve elections with rank system

Political Reform — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:43:00 -0400

In "Independents don't change system" [Opinion, June 25], Joshua Spivak warns that a third-party presidential candidacy's best hope is to play the spoiler, serving to elect a president who might otherwise have lost had he or she not thrown a hat in the ring. While this is usually the case, the fault lies not with the candidate, but with the system in which he or she runs.

As things are now, it takes a plurality of votes - not a true majority - to rake in a state's electoral votes. This creates a situation where even a candidate who… more

Doing away with election spoilers

Political Reform — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:57:00 -0400

We're hearing the word "spoiler" again in connection with a presidential election.

Admirers of former President George H.W. Bush have said all along that Ross Perot's third-party candidacy in 1992 took enough votes from Bush to allow Bill Clinton to win the presidency. It's clear that Ralph Nader kept Al Gore out of the White House in 2000 by diverting enough votes in Florida to tip the state, and the Electoral College outcome, to another Bush.

Now Democrats are worrying that New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg might run as an independent in 2008 and take critical votes from their… more

How IRV affects mudslinging campaigns

Political Reform — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:44:00 -0400

(op-ed by Steven Hill, published in the San Francisco Chronicle)

With all the controversy swirling around embattled San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew regarding FBI investigations and his in-district residency, some have asked the question: How did this guy ever get elected? Ironically the answer reveals a new dynamic in San Francisco elections that may diminish the nastiness of mudslinging campaigns, to the relief of all.San Francisco has seen its share of vicious political races. Campaign mailers showing Nazi swastikas, cockroaches and pornography, along with accusations of anti-Semitism, slum landlordism and more, have defiled our mailboxes and doorsteps. While… more

How Ed Jew Got Elected

Articles — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:33:00 -0400

Ironically the answer reveals a new dynamic in San Francisco elections that may diminish the nastiness of mudslinging campaigns, to the relief of all. San Francisco has seen its share of vicious political races. Campaign mailers showing Nazi swastikas, cockroaches and pornography, along with accusations of anti-Semitism, slum landlordism and more, have defiled our mailboxes and doorsteps. While negative campaigning will never go away, it may be possible to… more

Tease for two

Political Reform — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:01:00 -0400

Have you stopped beating your spouse? Yes or no? No other response is acceptable.

Would you like being told that you must have a car, and must choose between a Ford and a Chevy? Or that you must profess a religion, and your only two choices are Jainism and Zoroastrianism?

If so, you must love the election process.

If our government is to be truly representative, instant runoff voting (IRV) is a must. A choice between the absurd and the ridiculous is no sane means of determining national policy.

For those unfamiliar with it, instant runoff voting (IRV) involves casting not one vote for… more

Voter Education and Outreach in San Francisco to Implement IRV

Political Reform — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:39:00 -0400

San Francisco voters approved Proposition A in March 2002 that adopted instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting) to elect local offices in San Francisco. The first election occurred in November 2004. For that election, the Board of Supervisors funded and the Department of Elections conducted a voter education and outreach campaign leading up to the first election. Approximately $750,000 was spent by the Department of Elections to educate the 440,000 registered voters in San Francisco.

For the complete description and evaluation, please see the attached PDF file below.

Instant runoff voting is worth a look

Political Reform — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:40:00 -0400

(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… more

Los Angeles may vote for change

Political Reform — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:52:00 -0400

(Published in the Los Angeles Daily News) To entice Angelenos back to the polls after record-low turnouts in recent years, the city is mulling a host of changes, including new election dates, more mail-in voting and instant runoff voting. In this year's elections, 10 percent of registered voters participated in the March primary and 7 percent turned out for the May general election. The reason?

In a hearing Wednesday, voter education groups cited voter fatigue from too many elections, complicated initiatives,… more

Instant runoffs might be fix for voter fatigue

Political Reform — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:35:00 -0400

(Written by Steve Hymon, LA Times Staff Writer, with quote from Lynne Serpe)

Let's begin by agreeing that the Los Angeles City Council's Rules and Elections Committee is not exactly Comedy Central. That's not saying committee Chairman Eric Garcetti isn't a host with a sense of humor. He is. But hey, it's Rules and Elections. Short of passing out whoopee cushions and nachos, you can only do so much. But this Wednesday's meeting may be different because the committee is going to… more

Los Angeles Times Quotes Lynne Serpe on Instant Runoff Voting

Communications — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:51:00 -0400

New America in the News:

This Wednesday's [Los Angeles City Council's Rules and Elections Committee] meeting may be different because the committee is going to discuss instant runoff voting. If you're tired of the endless electioneering in the city, this is a good thing...

As attentive readers may recall, this column believes that perpetually low turnout in city elections is due, in part, to the city's insistence on holding elections in March of odd-numbered years. Any wonder that turnout in this year's election was just 11% and even lower during the May runoffs?

That means city elections follow directly on the heels of far sexier general elections in November of even-numbered years. The result: Election season feels like hockey season. It never ends...

The New America Foundation, which is pushing the proposal in cities across the country, says Los Angeles could save money with instant runoffs, having spent $30.9 million to administer separate runoff elections since 1993.

That's not to mention all the fundraising and campaign promises — not all well thought out — that accompany runoffs.

More important, the foundation says that candidates vying to be someone's second or third choice would stick to the issues more closely — and sometimes even build coalitions around issues.

"Local elections are some of the most important in terms of having an impact on your daily life," said Lynne Serpe, deputy director of the foundation's political reform program. "I think that elections have become so negative and nasty that people tune out and turn off..."

For the complete article, please visit the Los Angeles Times website.

LACCD Resolution: Saving Taxpayer Dollars Through Efficient, Democratic Elections

Political Reform — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:20:00 -0400

The following resolution was presented by Trustee Mona Field and passed by the Board of Trustees:

WHEREAS, The Los Angles Community College District election cycle and structure is legally tied to the City of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, The City’s changing political environment has led to occasions where the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees election runoff is the only election on the ballot; and