Click here for an interactive video.
Click here for a printable brochure.
Click here for Pierce County's 2009 General Election Voters' Pamphlet
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Why Ranked Choice Voting?
In November of 2006, the voters of Pierce County approved Instant Runoff Voting, which provides that the election of all county officials, except judges and the Prosecuting Attorney be conducted using instant runoff voting. All qualifying candidates will appear directly on the general election ballot.
Please note that from this point forward this method of voting will be referred to as 'Ranked Choice Voting'. The first Ranked Choice Voting election was held on November 4, 2008.
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What is Ranked Choice Voting?
Ranked choice voting allows Pierce County voters to rank a first, second, and third choice candidate for a single office for certain county offices. For the RCV races no primary will be held. The RCV election is held at the General Election.
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Who is elected using Ranked Choice Voting?
Pierce County uses Ranked Choice Voting to elect the following Pierce County officials:
- Executive - Partisan
- Auditor - Nonpartisan
- Sheriff - Nonpartisan
- Assessor-Treasurer - Nonpartisan
- Council Districts (All Positions) - Partisan
Ranked Choice Voting does not apply to the election of state and federal officials or the adoption of ballot measures. RCV does not apply to federal and state elections or the elections for Port of Tacoma, cities and towns, school districts, fire districts, park districts, water districts, sewer districts, or drainage districts.
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How do I run under a party label using Ranked Choice Voting?
For partisan RCV offices, the County central committee of each major political party may determine which candidates may use their party label. (Pierce County Charter 4.15)
Minor Party Candidates must seek their party approval prior to filing for office.
The following is a link to known minor political parties in Washington State.
Other Political Parties in Washington State
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How do I vote on a Ranked Choice Voting ballot?
Pierce County voters will receive two or more ballots -
- One traditional ballot (Federal, State and local issues)
- One or more RCV ballots (Pierce County RCV races)
Your RCV ballot(s) will look different from the traditional ballot.
Each race is listed three times across the ballot.
You may rank up to three choices.
- Mark your first choice in the first column by completing the arrow pointing to your choice.
- Mark your second choice, selecting a different candidate in the second column.
- Mark your third choice, selecting a different candidate in the third column.
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How are Ranked Choice Voting ballots tabulated?
- Ranked Choice Voting is conducted in rounds.
- The candidate who receives the fewest number of first-choice votes is eliminated from the race after each round.
- Voters who selected an eliminated candidate as their first choice, will have their second and third choices distributed appropriately.
-Your second choice will only be counted if your first-choice candidate has been eliminated. Your third choice will only be counted if both your first-choice and second-choice candidates have been eliminated.
- These rounds will continue until one candidate has a majority.
- At certification of the election, if a candidate has a majority, that candidate is elected and the algorithm will not be applied.
Additional procedures are necessary for conducting RCV elections in Pierce County.
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What was the impact of the 2007 Charter Amendments?
In November, 2007, two RCV amendments were approved by the Citizen's of Pierce County, Charter Amendment No. 6 allows the Auditor to limit the number of rankings to at least 3 candidates, unless the voting system can accommodate preference ranking of all candidates. The voting system currently used by Pierce County which is federally and state certified, provides for the ranking of three candidates. This amendment also allows for the elimination of multiple losing candidates in a single round and specifies that a winner will be declared once a candidate receives a majority.
County Charter Amendment No. 7 standardized the filing requirements for all RCV candidates, including Partisan, Non-Partisan and Minor/Independent candidates.
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The deadline for becoming a certified RCV Write-in Candidate is Friday, October 2, 2009. Click here for more information.
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The Pierce County, established a Blue Ribbon review panel to provide input and feedback as the Auditor's office developed the voting protocols necessary for carrying out RCV elections in Pierce County. The panel met in 2007.
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Meeting Schedule, Presentation, and Minutes:
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Presentation
Minutes
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Presentation
Minutes
Discussion Topic No. 2 -
Document 1
Document 2
Document 3
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Presentation
Minutes
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Presentation
Minutes
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Presentation
Minutes
Audio of Public Comment (mp3 file)
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