On August 18, the California Assembly passed SB 1288, letting all Cities and Counties use Instant Runoff voting (IVR) for Elections for their own officers.

SB 1288 enables cities and counties to help make all votes count by allowing those jurisdictions to reform their respective voting systems from plurality voting to preference- or ranked-choice voting. By selecting candidates by preference 1,2,3 voters’ preferences pass on to their second preference if their first choice is eliminated. Such voting systems produce true majority winners and better reflect the policy wishes of the electorate.

Under current law, general law cities must use first-past-the-post voting, where the candidate with the most votes wins even if far short of a majority. SB 1288 encourages majority rule by enabling general law cities and districts to use IVR or the traditional runoff.

Under current law, counties must use two-round runoff in their elections. SB 1288 will reduce the burden on candidates to raise money twice.

SB 1288 respects local choice: it does not mandate that any local jurisdiction change its voting method, but gives jurisdictions, with voter approval, additional majority winner options for conducting fair elections that best match local circumstances.

The bill is now through the legislature. Under current law, only Charter Cities and Charter Counties can use IRV.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker