An Introduction to Instant Runoff Voting By the California IRV Coalition (http://www.calirv.org) What is Instant Runoff Voting? Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a simple voting method used to select a single winner from a list of two or more candidates. By collecting more meaningful information from voters, it gives them a greater power of choice and measures their will more accurately. Invented in the United States, this method has been used in Australia and Ireland for many decades. How does it work? IRV allows voters to rank the candidates they find acceptable. To determine the winner, voters' first choices are counted. Votes for the last-place candidate are reallocated to the second choices on their respective ballots, and this process is repeated until someone has a majority. Sample ballot This is a ballot used to select a location for an IRV activists' meeting. ______________________________________ | IRV Meeting Location Poll | |Instructions: | | Choose the meeting places | | you support in order of preference. | | | | [_] San Francisco | | [2] Monterey | | [1] Los Angeles | | [3] Sacramento | -------------------------------------- This voter prefers to meet in Los Angeles, could meet in Monterey or Sacramento, and does not support a San Francisco meeting. Here is a sample count: Round 1 Los Angeles LLLLLLL Monterey MMMMM Sacramento SSS San Francisco FFFFFFFFF San Francisco is ahead, but Monterey and Sacramento could be splitting votes for LA. Eliminated Redistributed Votes Sacramento LMF The letters correspond to the second choices of Sacramento voters. The second choices of Sacramento voters were evenly split. Round 2 Los Angeles LLLLLLLL Monterey MMMMMM San Francisco FFFFFFFFFF Monterey still has enough votes to hand victory to LA. Eliminated Redistributed Votes Monterey LFFFFX In fact, Monterey voters overwhelmingly favored San Francisco as their second choice. One ballot did not have a subsequent choice marked Round 3 Los Angeles LLLLLLLLL San Francisco FFFFFFFFFFFFFF All choices X eliminated San Francisco wins. Instant Runoff Voting is better than plurality elections because: * IRV ensures majority rule. * IRV eliminates the "spoiler" problem. "Spoiler" candidates or "split votes" would no longer threaten major candidates. The Nader-vs.-Gore and Perot-vs.-Bush dilemmas would not have existed with IRV. * IRV promotes positive campaigns. With more candidates, and a need to get 2nd- and 3rd-choice votes, attack ads will not pay off. * IRV boosts voter turnout. Experience has shown that turnout increases when voters have more choices. * IRV makes votes count. IRV increases the likelihood that one's vote will be decisive. IRV is also better than "two-round" runoff or primary elections because: * IRV saves money. Election officials and taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for a second election. * IRV saves time. Voters do not lose work or family time voting a second election. * IRV is decisive. Voters are not let down by an inconclusive first election. * IRV makes campaigning easier. With IRV, candidates don't have to raise money for two races. * IRV is more accurate. IRV eliminates one candidate at a time, minimizing "spoiler" effects. Voter turnout is high in the decisive election, unlike two-round runoffs. But... * Does IRV require expensive equipment? No. Many counties already have IRV-compatible equipment. Paper IRV ballots are commonly used overseas. * Is IRV too confusing for voters? Where IRV has been adopted, it has endured for decades, so voters are comfortable with it. IRV is one of the simplest voting methods in use. * Does IRV upset the existing power structure? No, because it still relies on single-winner majority votes. IRV simply measures voters' will more accurately. What's happening? The California IRV Coalition is a nonpartisan grassroots organization working with political parties, public interest groups, legislators, and election officials to bring IRV to California. We work at both the state and county level. How can I help? We are a volunteer group, and we need help on all aspects of this project: education, coalition building, fund raising, and legislative research. Please see our web site or email us. Web: www.calirv.org Email: info@CalIRV.org