League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix

Our Issues and How You Can Help

Water

The League of Women Voters of Arizona is reviewing our current state water position to determine if an update or action plan is needed to better inform and communicate the current state of water in Arizona. If you are interested in working with the LWV Water Study Committee, please contact Crystal Thompson at cthompson@cap-az.com.

Ranked Choice Voting

(scroll down for LWAZ position on Election Systems Reform)

Volunteer to Make It Happen

  • Collect Signatures
  • Spread the word – speaking to groups
  • Support Prop #1

For more information on the League efforts or Better Ballot Glendale contact Barbara Klein



Better
Ballot
Glendale

(Proposition #1)

RANKED CHOICE VOTING

Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank their choices, more clearly demonstrating their intent. It eliminates costly runoffs which have poor turnout, avoiding wasting the funds of candidates with modest means and YOUR money as a tax payer. RCV allows for more sincere voting, eliminating the spoiler effect which often distresses the major parties and shuts out other voices, including women, 3rd parties and minority voices of all kinds. RCV offers a better ballot, giving a fairer vote to all. And for the voter it is as easy as 1-2-3.

Glendale Proposition #1

Ranked Choice Voting
“BETTER CHOICE – LESS COST”
Support Prop #1
Better
Ballot
Glendale


WHY
WHY Better Ballot Glendale ?

  • Saves taxpayer money – RCV avoids expensive runoff – still get majority winner.
  • More convenient to voter – go to polls just once
    (never needs runoff as majority winner elected in single election)
  • More choice for voter (With RCV No ‘lesser-of-two-evils’ voting)
  • Discourages dirty politics – RCV creates cleaner campaigns when candidate needs to woo 2nd or 3rd choice of voters

What other problem will RCV solve in Glendale?

  • More voters have a voice - RCV assures that decisions are made in election with best turnout instead of fewer voters at runoff.
  • RCV avoids Turnout drop - ‘delayed’ runoffs turnout generally drops 20-60 %.
  • “Instant runoff” - runoffs are unnecessary and inconvenient to voter
  • A level playing field with RCV. Delayed runoffs can be unfair advantage to candidates of greater means creating an un-level playing field.
  • One election, not two. Delayed runoffs lead to more money being sunk into local politics - longer and more expensive campaigns

HOW

Sample

* Background: Glendale is a single member districted city. Mayor is a single ‘at large’ seat. So the RCV process for all the city elections will result in a majority win – currently and often a runoff is necessary if a candidate doesn’t reach a majority. If people know the term IRV- Instant Runoff Voting, let them know it is the same for Glendale. Population, 246,000.

BACKGROUND --- Terminology Issues - The Technical stuff (only for YOUR understanding)

Ranked Choice Voting- RCV (The Umbrella Term) *A

Glendale
How many people are voted for One
Single Seat Election / Single Member District		 More than One
Multi-Seat Election / Multi-Member District
Technical term Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Result Majority Proportional Representation (PR) *B

*A The umbrella term is used here because, for the voter, the casting of a ballot is the same. You just vote for your favorites in order of preference (if you want to). So, just 1,2,3 etc.

*B There are other forms of PR aside from using RCV

Website (coming soon) – www.betterballotglendale.org

Other nonpartisan groups in coalition on Ranked Choice Voting:

  • FairVote AZ
  • AzAN
  • NOW

LWVAZ
Election Systems Reform Position

The League of Women Voters of Arizona (LWVAZ) believes in the election system principle of greatest voter representation. The League further maintains the hope that election system reform that provides a stronger voice for the greatest number of voters would have a positive effect on voter participation. Therefore, the LWVAZ:

  1. Supports changing the present election systems so that they more accurately represent the wishes of voters.
    1. Adopting the Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) system for single seat races.
    2. Adopting proportional representation for multi-seat races; specifically systems such as Cumulative Voting, Limited Voting OR Single Transferable Voting (STV).
  2. Believes that education of the voting public is important to election systems.
  3. Supports giving Arizona voters the option of more choice among election systems.

Adopted January 8, 2005