Pamela,
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) has been making headlines. Just this year, New York City used RCV in this year's Democratic Primary, leading to a grassroots candidate with broad support defeating a candidate with big money backers.
You're probably wondering what's Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), and how does it work? Instead of picking just one candidate, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate gets a majority in the first round, the one with the fewest votes is eliminated, and votes are redistributed based on next-choice preferences. This continues until someone wins with majority support.
Ranked Choice Voting helps ensure elections reflect the will of the people and that the winner is someone with broad, majority support, not just a narrow base. It gives every voter more voice and every vote more impact.
RCV encourages more civil campaigns, increases voter choice, and ensures winners better reflect the will of the people.
That's why Sarasota, FL voters approved RCV for local elections way back in 2007. But after years of back and forth about implementation of the new system, the Florida Legislature passed a law in 2022 that banned local governments from using RCV. This blocked voters' choice and undermined local democracy.
If voters in a city like Sarasota decide that they want to use a different, proven method for choosing their local representatives, that choice should be respected, not blocked. At Common Cause Florida, we believe communities should have a real say in how their representatives are chosen.
Staying informed is one of the best things we can do to strengthen our democracy. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Ranked Choice Voting!
In common cause,
Franceska Edouard, Florida Organizer
and the team at Common Cause Florida
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