San Francisco Takes the Lead in New Voting Method

[Dover]

S.F. Takes the Lead in New Voting Method

In November, voters will select their first, second and third choices for candidates in city races.

By Lee Romney, Times Staff Writer


SAN FRANCISCO — The city that brought the nation beat poetry, free love and sourdough bread now is taking on election reform. With a quiet nod from the secretary of state, San Francisco will soon let voters rank multiple candidates in citywide elections, a system that proponents say would eliminate the "spoiler" problem if used nationwide.

In November, San Francisco will become the first U.S. city to adopt the voting method since a short-lived experiment three decades ago in Michigan.

Under the system, voters will rank their top three candidates in order of preference. If no one wins 50% of the votes when first choices are tallied, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated. The second choice of those voters is then added to the remaining candidates' tallies. The process — which some call an instant runoff — continues until a majority winner emerges.

The voting method has been touted recently by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, among others.

It will make its biggest U.S. debut in a city proud of its political nonconformity. It is also a city that has been plagued by election debacles in past years....cont'd

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-vote9aug09,1,2975653.story?coll=la-home-politics

[Cicero]

1. It's a good idea...

...although I am starting to favor Condorcet methods for actually determining the winners. Still, at the front end, both IRV and Condorcet allow for ranking of choices. A good step forward.

Later,

[cprise]

2. I agree. IRV is going in the right direction

...but Condorcet is much better still, and just as simple to implement.

What impressed me is that it is resistant to "strategic voting" strategies used to eliminate an otherwise dominant candidate.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

3. What's Condorcet voting?

I've never heard of this. :shrug:

[Corkey Mineola]

4. Yes Thank you Very Much

As a proud San Franciscan, burdened with the exorbitant cost of living and high CA taxes in general, I am indeed pleased to accept at least one voter's credit for the adoption of the 'instant run-off' election.

Now if we could just use it on Nov 2 for President.... Not that the chimp poses much threat of getting any more than 20% of the vote in this freedom-loving county.

Woo Hoo
PHN1