How Ranked-Choice Voting Could Shake Up California's Political Scene
Ranked-choice voting is gaining traction in some U.S. cities, and California might be next. This voting method allows people to rank candidates by preference, rather than just picking one. If no one secures more than half the votes, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and their supporters' votes are redistributed to their next choice. This process continues until a candidate achieves over 50% of the vote.
The Perks of Ranked-Choice Voting
- No Wasted Votes: Stops votes from being wasted if your favorite candidate drops out.
- Less Nasty Campaigns: Candidates aim to be others' second or third choice, fostering civility.
- Cost Savings: Can save money by skipping runoff elections.
Currently, 63 places in the U.S. use ranked-choice voting, including seven cities in California.
How Would This Work in California?
Unlike New York, California has nonpartisan primaries where all candidates run together. This means candidates can't switch parties if they lose, unlike Cuomo in New York. Additionally, California's top-two primary system can lead to one-party general elections, especially in areas where one party is dominant.
Potential Impacts
- More Civil Campaigns: Candidates might be nicer to each other to secure second or third-choice votes.
- Centrist Outcomes: Could lead to more moderate outcomes if people rank moderate candidates from the other party.
- Extreme Positions: In areas with extreme voters, it might push moderates to take more extreme positions.
Unknowns and Considerations
There are still unknowns, such as how it would affect the political makeup of representation. However, if California wants to make elections less expensive and less polarized, ranked-choice voting is worth considering. It could bring lower costs, more engagement, and more representative outcomes.
