Dear John,
June was the biggest month yet for ranked choice voting (RCV) this year. We’re thrilled to share these exciting updates with you: Read on to learn more about these historic wins.
RCV might soon come to Oregon On the final day of its session, Oregon’s legislature referred a ranked choice voting measure to the 2024 ballot. This is the most significant step ever taken by a state legislature to advance RCV. “Ranked choice voting will give voters more choice, encourage voter engagement, and strengthen our democracy by improving people’s perception of elections and election outcomes. House Bill 2004 would make sure people in power are elected by a true 50% majority.” – Oregon State House Speaker Dan Rayfield If the measure passes, Oregon will become the largest state to use RCV in all statewide and federal elections (both primary and general)! The ballot measure would also: - establish a “local option” for cities and counties choosing to adopt ranked choice voting;
- provide local jurisdictions with tools and resources to ensure standardized implementation of ranked choice elections;
- and create a statewide education campaign to ensure voters across all demographics understand how to use ranked choice ballots.
Oregon’s measure joins another already on the docket for November 2024 – one for top-five primaries and RCV general elections in Nevada. Together, these two states are home to more than seven million people, and passing the measures would be one of the largest expansions of RCV in history! We have good reason to hope that both measures will pass. Nevadans already voted in favor of RCV just last year (Nevada requires constitutional amendments to pass twice before taking effect), and four Beaver State jurisdictions have already adopted RCV: its largest city (Portland) and its largest county (Multnomah), as well as the city of Corvallis and Benton County. FairVote Action is proud to support the work of Oregon Ranked Choice Voting, the Coalition of Communities of Color, and others who have made ranked choice voting a priority in Oregon.
Arlington proves that proportional RCV leads to reflective outcomes
On Tuesday, June 20, Arlington became the first Virginia jurisdiction to use proportional RCV in a government-run election – its Democratic primary for County Board. The voting system ensured a representative outcome and that a vast majority of voters were able to help nominate a candidate they support. Six candidates ran for the two seats, and voters could rank up to three candidates. Arlington Democrats selected Susan Cunningham and Maureen Coffey as their nominees, making them general election favorites in the heavily Democratic county. Both candidates had strong showings among voters’ first choices, and also earned significant second- and third-choice support. 84% of voters ranked a winning candidate first, second, or third on their ballot. By comparison, only 45% of voters voted for a winning candidate in the last similar County Board primary. Moreover, the outcome accurately mirrored the ideological breakdown of Arlington Democrats. On housing policy – the most salient issue of the race, and one that appears to divide Arlingtonians roughly 50-50 – one candidate representing each side of the debate was nominated. RCV does not favor any policy preference, but it does ensure voters’ preferences are well-represented by the candidates they elect. It's clear that more Virginia communities would benefit from adopting RCV. Support UpVote Virginia to expand RCV across the Commonwealth!
New York shows that RCV is simple and makes campaigns more positive This Tuesday was a quiet, no-drama day at the polls in New York City as voters selected their City Council candidates. Voting ran smoothly, with RCV clearly becoming part of the fabric of NYC’s elections in just its second use. Most City Council primaries were uncontested, or saw a candidate win with a clear majority of voters’ first choices. However, at least two close, multi-candidate races will be decided by ranked choice voting tabulation, as no candidate received a majority of voters’ first choices. Those are the Democratic primary for Council District 19 and the Republican primary for Council District 13. The city council elections featured heartfelt, joyous moments showing how RCV can foster more positive campaigning. In Council District 9, for instance, Yusef Salaam (now the likely nominee) and his opponent Al Taylor joked about who voters should rank Number 1 as they stood outside the polls in Harlem. Salaam and Taylor had previously cross-endorsed each other, encouraging voters to rank them first and second because of their shared policy platforms. We're grateful for the work Common Cause New York has done to bring RCV to the Big Apple!
How you can help the movement None of this progress for RCV would have been possible without your support. To make joining the RCV movement easier than ever before, we’re excited to unveil our new Wins and Opportunities page, which highlights the movement’s latest victories and ways you can take action. Let's keep these wins coming! Hope that you and yours have a wonderful 4th of July! Ashley Houghton Senior Director of Programs and Policy | 
