As 2022 draws to a close, we at FairVote are absorbing an exciting reality: our
featured proposal for better elections for all has become the single
fastest-growing electoral reform in the nation. Dear John,
As 2022 draws to a close, we at FairVote are absorbing an exciting reality: our
featured proposal for better elections for all has become the single
fastest-growing electoral reform in the nation.Ranked choice voting(RCV) has had
a remarkable year, from a string of ballot measure wins, key legislative
advances, notable new uses and a growing national coalition of supporters.

December has been another big month for RCV and an exciting finale to the year.
We’re thrilled that right across the Potomac in Virginia, Arlington’s county
board has decidedto use ranked choice voting in its 2023 primaries, taking
advantage of anRCV local options billpassed by the legislature in 2020.

Moreover, Republicans in Virginia’s 4thcongressional district and Democrats in
severalPennsylvania state housedistricts used ranked choice voting to pick their
nominees for special elections being held in the new year. RCV received great
reviews from voters and party officials, allowing the parties to coalesce around
nominees who most members can agree upon.

In the states and in Congress, we’re hearing of a slew of new bills for RCV,
creating the promise of 2023 being the biggest year yet for RCV in our
legislatures. Ranked choice voting in the news

Ranked choice voting continues to earn national, state, and local headlines.
Recent hits have focused on the success of RCV elections around the country, and
states like Georgia where the case for instant runoffs is especially clear. Here
are some of our favorites:

On the December 19th episode of PBS NewsHour, Amy Walter of the Cook Political
Report says more ranked choice voting is at the top of her holiday wish list.
Walter says RCV encourages candidates to reach beyond their base. Watch the clip
at around ~35:40 in.

The Washington Posteditorial board endorsed the growing movement to adopt ranked
choice voting in Georgia:
* “Mr. Raffensperger expresses openness to several reforms, including
ranked-choice voting, something we support…. Georgia lawmakers allowed
military and overseas voters to rank candidates on their first ballot. This
worked well. Why not try such an ‘instant runoff’ for everyone?”


TheAnchorage Daily Newscelebrated how ranked choice voting is already improving
politics in Alaska after just one election cycle:
* “We should be thankful, too, for the advent of Alaska's open primary and
ranked choice voting system this year, which is already paying dividends in
helping candidates run on their ideas rather than their adherence to
political party orthodoxy.”



FairVote President Rob Richie wrote an article in The Fulcrum called “
Ranked-choice voting was a winner on Election Day,” which was syndicated in
newspapers across the country:
* “RCV is clearly ready to scale, just as it has become the norm in such
nations as Australia and Ireland. Election officials can run RCV elections
smoothly, transparently and with ever-growing ease. Voters are handling
well-designed ballots well, and most cities with RCV produce preliminary
counts quickly and complete their final tallies on the same timeline as with
traditional voting.”


The latest research

FairVote's research team continues to study the effects of RCV on elections
large and small. This month, Rachel Hutchinson analyzed how candidates who won
their primaries with a plurality of the vote performed in the general election
compared with those who won primaries with majority support.

The findings were clear: majority winners in primaries do better than plurality
winners. This adds to the burgeoning body of research that shows ranked choice
voting primaries can help parties pick strong nominees and set them up for
success in general elections.


Thoughts from the CEO

As our 30th anniversary year comes to a close and we turn to the promise of
2023, I’m truly inspired by all the energy and support received across this past
year. Giving to FairVote and FairVote Action has grown a remarkable 50 percent,
and we anticipate comparable growth next year. Your collective support for our
reform vision allows us to have a FairVote team of more than 25 colleagues, an
array of experienced consultants, and a growing coalition of national, state and
local allies. My deepest gratitude to all of you who help with your time, talent
and treasure!


Thank you for a great year

Our work on improving democracy is only possible thanks to your support. This
month, we’re especially touched by a first-time donation we received from Jeff,
a poll worker in Texas. Jeff already contributes to our democracy by doing
crucial work at the polls, and has now gone an extra mile by contributing the
money he made as a poll worker to the better elections movement. Thank you to
Jeff and everyone else whohas donated!
Onwards to 2023!

Ashley Houghton,
Director of Communications

PS: Many American towns are short on poll workers each election cycle, and need
more workers like Jeff to make sure our democracy runs smoothly. To find out how
to become a poll worker in your community, check out this info from the U.S.
Election Assistance Commission.
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