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LAFCO directs staff to study ranked-choice voting and voter-education impacts
Summary
The commission voted to direct staff to analyze how ranked-choice voting has performed in San Francisco and elsewhere, including effects on turnout, voter education needs and undervote/overvote reporting; staff will return with a proposal.
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission voted on Jan. 27, 2012, to direct staff to study ranked-choice (instant-runoff) voting in San Francisco and to compile data on voter turnout, education and reporting practices.
Chair David Campos introduced the item as a potential study LAFCO could undertake to produce objective information about ranked-choice voting's real-world effects. Commissioners raised questions about whether official city summaries exist and suggested comparing San Francisco's experience with other U.S. and international jurisdictions.
Commissioner Avila moved that staff pursue analysis of ranked-choice voting locally, including trends, public-education efforts, and comparative experience elsewhere; Commissioner Pimentel seconded the motion and it passed without objection. Jason Fried, LAFCO staff, said the department can begin internal work and that Department of Elections files may be needed to separate undervoting and overvoting records for consistent comparison.
Public commenter Eric Brooks urged the commission to include examples from Australia and Canada and warned elected, municipal boards created for future utilities or joint powers authorities could make the study relevant to future governance choices.
Why it matters: The study could inform policy-makers and voters about whether ranked-choice voting affects turnout or voter understanding and help determine whether additional voter education is needed if other elected bodies are created in connection with municipal services such as a CCA.
Next steps: Staff will compile available datasets and report back with a proposal for analysis and, if necessary, a recommendation on whether to engage outside experts.
