Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked Choice Voting message for the Sunnyvale Democratic Club

Written July 3, 2024 by David Newswanger

In August, the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors is expected to consider using Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for future elections. RCV allows voters to rank their choices 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. If no candidate gets a majority, then an “instant runoff” occurs. The last place candidate is eliminated, and his/her votes are transferred to the voters’ second choice candidates. What that means for you as a voter is that if your first choice can’t win, your vote isn’t wasted. It counts for your next choice.