Ranked Choice Voting Elections in 6 Cities - Huffington Post

Real Choices: Ranked Choice Voting Elections in 6 Cities

This month many Americans had a chance to vote in state and local elections. FairVote was particularly focused on the first-ever use of ranked choice voting (RCV, or "instant runoff voting") in Maine's biggest city of Portland, along with RCV elections in St. Paul (MN), San Francisco (CA), Cambridge (MA), Telluride (CO) and Takoma Park (MD). --->>>

Voting system affects outcome, simulation finds

Voting system affects outcome, simulation finds

A simulated election that examined different voting methods during last week's Ontario election shows that for at least some voters, how they cast their ballot depends on the voting system presented to them. --->>>

Voting alternatives discussed as Ontario election approaches

Voting alternatives discussed as Ontario election approaches

U of M researchers' virtual election simulation examines alternative and proportional models, excludes mixed-member proportional

TORONTO (CUP) — As the Ontario provincial election approaches, a team of researchers are offering alternatives to the current voting system in an online election simulator. --->>>

If you hate how we vote in Ontario, try this [Toronto Star, Bob Hepburn]

If you hate how we vote in Ontario, try this [Toronto Star, Bob Hepburn]

Are you fed up with thinking your vote never counts or your party never wins as many seats as you think it deserves?

If you do, then you’re not alone because that’s how many Ontario voters feel as they prepare to cast their ballots in the Oct. 6 election.

For decades, critics of Ontario’s first-past-the-post electoral system, in which the candidate receiving the most votes wins the riding, have complained that it shuts out small parties, hurts voter turnout and generally is an offence against modern democracy.

At last, these critics will get a chance to see just how an election outcome might actually unfold if Ontario used a different voting system.

To do this, Ontario residents are being asked to take part in a unique experiment in democracy by going to a website (threeontariovotes.ca), selecting their riding and then voting three ways: the current system, an alternative vote method now used in Australia and proportional representation used in the Netherlands.  --->>>

See also:  CBC - Virtual election lets Ontarians 'vote' under different rules

Voting reform question for May referendum unveiled | Politics | The Guardian

Voting reform question for May referendum unveiled | Politics | The Guardian

The parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill published today revealed voters will be asked: "Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system for electing members of parliament to the House of Commons?" --->>>

Instant Runoff Voting Is Under Review - WSJ.com

Instant Runoff Voting Is Under Review - WSJ.com:

The Charter Revision Commission, the panel appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to consider changes to the city constitution, plans to take a serious look at a proposal that would eliminate the need for voters to make a second trip to the polls for runoff elections.

The proposal, known as instant runoff voting, would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate fails to reach 40%, the threshold in New York City for winning a party's nomination in citywide races, the ballots would be counted again, with voters' rankings used to simulate a runoff.

Supporters say the proposal would increase voter participation and save taxpayers millions of dollars. --->>>

UK: Electoral Reform: The British Public Must Be Given The Chance To Choose A Genuinely Fair Electoral System

Electoral Reform: The British Public Must Be Given The Chance To Choose A Genuinely Fair Electoral System

There is a definite need for electoral reform but all choices must be explored says the independent think tank ippr as it suggests Additional Member System (AMS) would make our elections fairer.

In a new report published today, the report's author, Dr Phil McCarvill, a Visiting Research Fellow at ippr, believes the debate on electoral reform so far has been very narrow confined within three specific options - Alternative Vote (AV), Alternative Vote Plus (AV+) and Single Transferable Vote (STV).

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Antony Green's Election Blog: Preferential Voting in Australia

Antony Green's Election Blog: Preferential Voting in Australia

Australia has a long history of electoral experimentation. Australia led the world in abandoning electoral franchises based on property ownership by extending the right to vote to all adult males. Australia also led the world in granting the vote to women, and in the introduction of the secret ballot, a reform that when introduced in the United States was often referred to as the 'Australian ballot'.

One innovation that has remained more or less unique to Australia has been preferential voting. --->>>

BBC News - Brown to ask MPs to vote on electoral reform referendum

BBC News - Brown to ask MPs to vote on electoral reform referendum:

MPs are to be asked to vote next week on holding a referendum on electoral reform, the BBC has learnt.

Gordon Brown is backing a plan for a referendum on replacing the 'first past the post' system of electing MPs with an 'alternative vote' system.

Under an AV system, voters are asked to rank candidates by preference rather than putting a cross by a single name.

...

San Leandro goes with ranked-choice voting system - Inside Bay Area

San Leandro goes with ranked-choice voting system - Inside Bay Area:

SAN LEANDRO — After a much-anticipated vote, ranked-choice voting is a go.

At the end of a meeting that pushed toward midnight, the City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to switch to the new voting system.

The switch means this year's municipal elections for mayor and three City Council seats will be held in November rather than June. The council will hold a special session Feb. 1 to officially change the election date.

Ranked-choice voting — also called instant runoff voting — allows voters to rank three candidates by preference, rather than vote for one and then vote again in a runoff election if a single candidate does not receive 50 percent of the vote as required by the city's charter.

...

Oakland City Council approves rank choice voting - 1/06/10 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com

Oakland City Council approves rank choice voting - 1/06/10 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com:

There is now a new way to vote in Oakland. The City Council approved an election system called 'rank choice' voting.

Instant runoff for mayor before Oakland council

Instant runoff for mayor before Oakland council:

Oakland voters will pick the city's next mayor in an instant runoff election in November, likely eliminating the June primary, if the City Council agrees tonight to revamp election plans.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen recently approved bids from Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro for instant runoff elections, similar to San Francisco's. Berkeley and San Leandro are expected to take up the issue in the next few weeks.

The move comes more than three years after Oakland voters approved the switch to instant runoffs as a way to save money. In instant runoffs, also called ranked voting, voters pick their first-, second- and third-choice candidates on a single ballot and the results are processed instantly, until one candidate draws more than 50 percent of the votes cast.

Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro are the only cities in Alameda County eligible for instant runoffs because they're the only three with city charters requiring winning candidates to receive majority votes.

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Pro-IRV group fined $5,000 for violating campaign law « Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media.

Pro-IRV group fined $5,000 for violating campaign law « Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media.:

St. Paul’s Better Ballot Campaign was fined $5,000 for violating campaign laws after a panel of administrative law judges ruled the group made false claims in endorsements of Instant Runoff Voting, which was approved by St. Paul voters on election day.

Minneapolis elections officials nearing final IRV report | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

Minneapolis elections officials nearing final IRV report | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ:

The hand count of ballots cast in Minneapolis' first ever election using instant runoff voting is coming to a close and Minneapolis elections officials will soon start to compile a report about the city's new experience.

So far, they say the voting and counting has gone smoothly and they're on pace to finish several weeks ahead of schedule. But some interested observers are not as impressed with the city's performance.

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Poll: 56% of voters prefer instant runoff voting | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

Poll: 56% of voters prefer instant runoff voting | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ:

A new Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota poll shows Minneapolis residents are divided over the city's new instant runoff voting system.

Those who turned out to vote in this year's election tend to prefer the new system, but many of those who stayed home wish the city would go back to the old way of voting.

BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Voting reform referendum pledged

BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Voting reform referendum pledged:

Gordon Brown has committed Labour to holding a referendum on voting reform should it win the next election.

In his conference speech, Mr Brown said Labour would hold a referendum 'early' in the next Parliament on proposals for an alternative vote system.

Under this, voters rank candidates in order with the bottom candidate's second preferences transferred in each round until someone gets 50% of votes.

Reform campaigners said the public should decide which options to vote on.

They have also queried the timing of a referendum, pointing out that Labour never followed through on a commitment to a referendum on electoral reform in its 1997 manifesto.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Voting change for best film Oscar

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Voting change for best film Oscar:

The voting system, which will determine the winner of the best picture at this year's Oscars is being changed, it has been announced.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said preferential voting will now be used to tally the final vote for the award.

ERS: The alternative vote - society warns of Brown's 'Hobson's choice' - Politics.co.uk

ERS: The alternative vote - society warns of Brown's 'Hobson's choice' - Politics.co.uk:

"The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed news that the government is preparing for a referendum on electoral reform, but called on the Prime Minister to ensure that a referendum would offer real change and not just a timid adjustment to the present voting system."

ERS: Open primaries - a diversion from the change we need to see

ERS: Open primaries - a diversion from the change we need to see:

The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed the Conservative decision to give electors more say through a primary in Totnes, but the Society has warned that without a change in the electoral system primaries will do little to make the Government more accountable and parliament more representative.

"If a system such as the Single Transferable Vote (STV) were used for our general elections, then there would be less need for primaries. STV would allow voters to choose between several candidates of a party, effectively combining a primary with the election."

Editorial: IRV is ready for Minneapolis debut

Editorial: IRV is ready for Minneapolis debut:

The voting experiment may proceed. That was the word Thursday from the Minnesota Supreme Court about instant-runoff voting, aka ranked-choice voting, as embraced by a lopsided majority of Minneapolis voters in 2006.