Elections: ranked choice voting.
The bill emphasizes that ranked choice voting could lead to increased election expenditures due to the additional resources required for counting ranked votes. Additionally, some predicted benefits of ranked choice voting, such as enhanced diversity of candidates and reduced negativity in campaigns, have reportedly not manifested in places where this system is utilized. The bill highlights that these complications might detract from the core democratic principles that the electoral system is meant to uphold.
Assembly Bill 2808, introduced by Assembly Member O'Donnell, seeks to amend the Elections Code in California by prohibiting the use of ranked choice voting in both state and local elections. The bill articulates concerns regarding the implications of ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank candidates in the order of their preference. The primary argument against this voting method is that it could result in outcomes deemed undemocratic, such as winners not securing a plurality of the vote, and introduces complexities that may result in voter mistakes and disenfranchisement.
AB 2808 also states that the changes proposed are a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal issue, thereby asserting its applicability across all cities, including charter cities. This centralization of electoral regulation may elicit contention, particularly among local governments that wish to maintain control over their election procedures. Supporters of ranked choice voting may argue that banning this method undermines the autonomy of municipalities and restricts voter choice in a democratic process.