LAFCO accepts final ranked-choice voting report for review, commissioners ask for supplemental analyses

Jason Fried, LAFCO staff, presented a final report on the voting process and ranked-choice voting for local offices and described edits and clarifications made since an earlier draft. Fried said the document represents a final report for the commission’s review but that he could prepare supplemental analyses if requested.

Several public commenters urged the commission to expand or clarify analyses. Stephen Hill recommended whole-contest analysis and additional turnout comparisons, and David Carey urged a fuller treatment of overvote and exhausted-ballot comparisons, saying current measures understate certain rates. “It would make the report more robust,” Hill said, urging inclusion of recent primary data and comparative turnout metrics.

Fried explained the methodology choices that informed the report’s scope — for example, limiting turnout comparisons to jurisdictions where local elections are separated from state and federal contests — and said he was willing to produce supplemental work if the commission wanted it.

Commissioner Olague moved to accept the report as an informational item with the understanding that supplemental work could follow; the motion was seconded and accepted without objection. LAFCO staff will coordinate transmittal of the report to the Department of Elections and the Elections Commission for further feedback if requested.

The item was recorded as accepted by the commission as an informational report; commissioners and members of the public indicated possible supplemental analyses to address turnout, overvote, and exhausted-ballot comparisons.