Momentum Growing for Instant Runoff Voting
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is an election method which gives voters more meaningful choices, reduces campaign 
spending, and encourages positive and issue-oriented campaigns. Municipalities and taxpayers like IRV because IRV can eliminate the need for unnecessary and expensive two round runoff elections.
San Francisco has successfully used IRV (also known as ranked choice voting) since 2004. Now, cities and communities across California are looking at using IRV as a way to save money and boost voter turnout. Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro are just some of the jurisdictions which are studying or are likely to use IRV in the near future.
New America’s Political Reform Program has published several recent commentaries about IRV in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Oregonian, as well as in depth reports about how IRV can reinvigorate democracy in L.A. and San Jose.
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IRV in San Jose
The Political Reform Program recently released a policy paper which found that IRV could boost voter turnout in San Jose and save the city millions of dollars. Two city councilors, Ash Kalra and Sam Liccardo, spoke at a free public event about IRV sponsored by the Political Reform Program and Common Cause in June. The San Jose Elections Commission looked at IRV during their May meeting and will discuss it again on August 12.
LA Councilmembers Create IRV Task Force
By a 10-2 vote, the Los Angeles City Council approved a task force that will research how instant runoff voting can be implemented for elections in the City of Los Angeles.
To read the press release, click here.
Long Beach looks at IRV
The city clerk of Long Beach has issued a favorable report that outlines the advantages of Long Beach changing from its current two-round method to electing majority winners in a single election using IRV. Long Beach Press-Telegram endorses IRV; read the city clerk's report here.
Labor Legend Dolores Huerta Endorses IRV
Legendary union leader Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Cesar Chavez, has endorsed IRV. In a few short months, IRV has been gaining strong support from all corners of Los Angeles. Earlier, former Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Woo and the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild (American Federation of Teachers 1521) announced their support for IRV.
Among candidates and elected officials, supporters include: Former Los Angeles Mayor of Los Angeles Richard J. Riordan, City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Jose Huizar, Councilmember Wendy Greuel, Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, Councilmember Ed Reyes, former Councilmember Richard Alatorre, State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, State Sen. Jack Scott, Assemblymember Warren Furutani, Los Angeles Community College Board President Sylvia Scott-Hayes, Los Angeles Community College Trustee Georgia Mercer, Los Angeles Community College Trustee Mona Field, Los Angeles Community College Trustee Nancy Pearlman, and LA City Attorney candidate Carmen Trutanich.
Click here, for a full list of endorsements by elected officials, organizations and individuals.
For additional IRV updates, please see www.IRVinLA.org.
Study: Communities of Color Benefit from IRV
The New America Foundation study on Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and Its Impact on Communities of Color analyzes IRV elections from other American cities, based on previous reports from FairVote, San Francisco State University, Asian Law Caucus and others.
The study shows that racial and ethnic minorities overwhelmingly understand IRV and use ranked ballots effectively. In San Francisco, voter turnout in socio-economically diverse neighborhoods has increased dramatically. The study also analyzes the effectiveness of past IRV educational campaigns and provides pointers for the City of Los Angeles to conduct its own voter outreach.
"Our study shows that communities of color take full advantage of IRV. They not only use ranked ballots effectively, but also turn out in record numbers -- giving them a greater voice in the political process," said Monika Kulma of the New America Foundation "The study shows that IRV will benefit all residents of Los Angeles," she added.
Click here for more on the latest on the campaign for IRV in LA
