City Clerk certifies March 4 ranked‑choice election results; clerk outlines lessons and next steps

City Clerk (Eleanor) presented final results and precinct‑level data for Redondo Beach’s March 4 municipal election, the first citywide use of ranked‑choice voting (RCV) under the city’s new ordinance. The council adopted a resolution declaring the results by unanimous vote (Resolution No. CC‑2503‑018).

The clerk said 11,244 ballots were cast and explained RCV reporting conventions: overvotes, undervotes and exhausted ballots (ballots not transferable because the voter ranked no remaining candidates). The clerk said some ballots required manual review — for example, one ballot had white‑out that prevented automatic tabulation — and that two previously cured ballots were received in time under election‑code cure rules.

City staff, outside observers and civic groups addressed the council during public comment. Californians for Electoral Reform praised the clerk’s implementation and an exit poll that showed voters largely understood and supported RCV. Other speakers said a portion of voters found RCV confusing and urged expanded voter education. Multiple council members asked the clerk for a post‑election budget response report: a reconciliation of election outreach spending, a breakdown of vendor performance, recommended changes to voter education, and consideration of whether a public survey is warranted.

The council adopted a resolution declaring the official results and directed staff to return with suggestions for additional voter outreach and system improvements. The clerk also said cast‑vote records and precinct reports will be posted and that staff will follow up with IT and the vendor to add reporting features and better public tracking for ballot receipt and signature verification.