Rank Choice Voting (RCV) is a voting system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate is the first preference of a majority of voters, the candidate with the fewest number of first preference rankings is eliminated and that candidate’s ballots are redistributed at full value to the remaining candidates according to the next ranking on each ballot. This process is repeated until one candidate obtains a majority of votes among candidates not eliminated.

Today, Christina Tobin, Founder and Chair of The Free & Equal Elections Foundation has written a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times urging the voters of Pierce County to continue using RCV:

Free and Equal Elections supports election reform efforts throughout the United States. Pierce County with its Ranked Choice Voting system is a leader in the country for opening up its elections to a diversity of candidates. The seven 2008 county level races in Pierce County “with 22 candidates” was a landmark example of open elections.

For example, the County Executive race featured four solid candidates debating the issues providing voters with a more diverse set of choices and a broader range of opinion than any other race in the state of Washington. Kudos to Pierce County!

Mike Lonergan was able to participate effectively in the Executive race despite having to run as a third party candidate. Lonergan was treated with the respect he deserved and received 15% of the first choices while facing three very well funded opponents.

Despite receiving a much higher vote percentage than Ralph Nader did in 2000 running for President, Lonergan was not called a spoiler like Nader was.

Why not?

The ability of voters to list their second and third choices prevented Lonergan from being a spoiler.

Free and Equal Elections salutes Pierce County for its election systems. Incumbent politicians are trying to take Pierce County back to the dark ages by putting charter Amendment 3 on the ballot.

Please reject Amendment 3 as a step backwards. A step away from free and equal elections.

Sincerely,

Christina Tobin

The Free and Equal Elections Foundation

More Information on Ranked Choice Voting in Pierce County, Washington can be found here:

Ranked Choice Voting in Pierce County, Washington

News & Notes from Free & Equal: October 20th, 2009