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Ranked Choice Voting Explained -
Click here for an interactive video.
Click here for a printable brochure.
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In November of 2006, the voters of Pierce County approved Charter Amendment No. 3 -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 will be 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 will be held at the General Election.
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Who is elected using Ranked Choice Voting?
Beginning this year, Pierce County will use Ranked Choice Voting to elect the following Pierce County officials:
- Executive - Partisan
- Sheriff - Nonpartisan
- Assessor-Treasurer - Nonpartisan
- Council Districts (Positions 2, 3, 4, and 6) - Partisan
In 2010, voters will use RCV to elect the Auditor (Nonpartisan) and Council Positions 1,5, and 7 (Partisan). Ranked Choice Voting will not apply to the election of state and federal officials or the adoption of ballot measures. RCV will 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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Who will run under a party label using Ranked Choice Voting in 2008?
For partisan RCV offices, the County central committee of each major political party may determine which candidates may use their party label. Partisan RCV candidates must have sought party approval prior to April 15th. The following are the partisan candidates authorized to use their party label. (Pierce County Charter 4.15)
- Pierce County Democratic Party
Pierce County Executive - Pat McCarthy and Calvin Goings
County Council, District No. 2 - Al Rose and Carolyn Merrival
County Council, District No. 3 - Bruce Lachney
County Council, District No. 4 - Tim Farrell
County Council, District No. 6 - Vincent Stewart
- Pierce County Republican Party
Pierce County Executive - Shawn Bunney
County Council, District No. 2 - Joyce McDonald
County Council, District No. 3 - Roger Bush
County Council, District No. 6 - Dick Muri
Minor Party Candidates must seek their party approval prior to filing for office. The deadline for the minor parties to notify the Auditor of candidates authorized to use their party label is May 30, 2008 at 4:30pm.
- Executive Excellence Party
Pierce County Executive - Mike Lonergan
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 will be 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 will be 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 will be necessary for conducting RCV elections in Pierce County.
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Do other jurisdictions use Ranked Choice Voting?
Instant Runoff Voting is still in its infancy in United States elections.
Currently:
- Burlington, Vermont
- San Francisco, California - San Francisco has been using RCV for some offices for several years. Although their system is somewhat different from the system Pierce County will implement, you can visit their website for some additional background information. www.sfelections.org
- Australia and Ireland
- North Carolina (past pilot project)
2009 - 2013
- Alameda County (Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro)
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Los Angeles, California
Pierce County will be the first Washington State County to conduct a RCV election.
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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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Pierce County Auditor, Pat McCarthy has established a Blue Ribbon review panel to provide input and feedback as the Auditor's office writes the voting protocols necessary for carrying out RCV elections in Pierce County. The panel will begin meeting in April 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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