PolicyWWW.FAIRVOTE.ORG Guide 2018

RANKED CHOICE VOTING (Single-winner edition)

HOW IT WORKS

It’s simple! Voters get to rank RCV is used candidates in order of choice. If a statewide in Maine! candidate receives more than half of the first choices, they win, just like any other election. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate as ‘number 1’ will have their votes count for their next choice. This process continues until a candidate wins with more than half of the votes, which is a majority. st choice nd choice rd choice 1 2 3 PURPLE PINK BLUE

USING RCV NOW OVERSEAS VOTERS COMING SOON! Berkeley, California Arkansas Amherst, Massachusetts* Cambridge, Massachusetts* Alabama Benton County, Oregon Minneapolis, Minnesota Louisiana Cottonwood Heights, Utah Oakland, California Mississippi Ferndale, Michigan Portland, Maine South Carolina Las Cruces, New Mexico Maine Springfield, Illinois Lehi, Utah San Francisco, California Memphis, Tennessee San Leandro, California Payson, Utah Santa Fe, New Mexico St. Louis Park, Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Salem, Utah Takoma Park, Maryland Sarasota, Florida Telluride, Colorado Vineyard, Utah West Jordan, Utah * Multi-winner ranked choice voting only www.fairvote.org | [email protected] | 301-270-4616 PolicyWWW.FAIRVOTE.ORG Guide 2018

BENEFITS OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING

WINNERS WITH BROAD SUPPORT CIVIL CAMPAIGNS Ranked choice voting ensures candidates win Candidates are incentivized to work together or elections with the broadest possible support, find common ground on issues in the hopes of upholding the principle of majority rule that earning voters’ backup choices. legitimizes outcomes for voters and candidates. Without RCV, candidates can win primaries or general elections with far less than 50% support. MORE COMPETITION CREATES REFLECTIVE OUTCOMES VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE With more candidates and choices, elections become truly competitive, electing winners No more strategic voting. Ranked who reflect the views of the widest number of choice voting frees voters to constituents. And even in crowded fields, similar choose the candidates they like candidates can compete without splitting votes. best, without fear of wasting their Whether Republican, Democrat, independent or vote and inadvertently helping third-party, all candidates can compete without elect the candidate they like least. worrying about the “spoiler effect.”

ROUND 1 ROUND 2 FINAL

50% 55% 45% 40% 40% 35% 35% 25% 15% 10% PURPLE PINK BLUE PURPLE PINK BLUE PURPLE PINK BLUE PINK HAS THE FEWEST PINK IS ELIMINATED. VOTES FOR PINK WE HAVE A WINNER! 1ST PLACE CHOICES COUNT FOR THEIR 2ND CHOICES

www.fairvote.org | [email protected] | 301-270-4616