Ranked Choice Voting for Texas RCVfor Texas org

Ranked Choice Voting for Texas RCVfor. Texas. org info@RCVfor. Texas. org

Our current voting systems have challenges “First Past the Post” System (plurality voting) Challenges • If 3 or more candidates, winner often receives less than a majority of the votes – “Who does the majority prefer? ” Step 1: Vote John Q Jane Doe Step 2: Count Votes Fred Rubble John Q Mary Hill Jane Doe Joe Smith Fred Rubble Mary Hill Joe Smith 25% 30% 20% 15% 10%

Our current voting systems have challenges “Two–round runoff” System(majority voting) Step 1: Vote John Q Jane Doe Challenges John Q and Jane Due advance to run-off Step 2: Count Votes Fred Rubble John Q Mary Hill Jane Doe Joe Smith Fred Rubble Mary Hill Joe Smith 25% 30% 20% 15% 10% • Additional time and cost if runoff election needed • Low voter turnout – Half of Texans eligible to vote do not vote • Voters feel limited to voting for major candidate – “I don’t want to waste my vote on unlikely candidates, even if I like them better” • “Spoiler Effect”: Similar candidates split votes causing opponent with minority support to win – Fewer candidates compete in general elections

We can have a better voting system: Ranked Choice Voting, also known as Instant Runoff Voting, Saves Money Greater Choice Stronger Voice More Issues, Less Negative

Many use Ranked Choice Voting today

How does Ranked Choice Voting work? 1 st Ch 2 nd oice Ch 3 rd oic Ch e 4 th oic Ch e 5 th oic Ch e oi ce Step 1: Vote John Q 1 2 3 4 5 Jane Doe 1 2 3 4 5 Fred Rubble 1 2 3 4 5 Mary Hill 1 2 3 4 5 Joe Smith 1 2 3 4 5 Voters rank candidates in order of choice without fear of helping elect the candidate they like least Voters can rank as many – or as few – candidates as they want

How does Ranked Choice Voting work? Step 2: Count Votes 0% All first choices are counted. If a candidate gets more than half, they win, just like any other election. 10% John Q 20% 25% Jane Doe 30% Fred Rubble Mary Hill Joe Smith 30% 20% 15% 10% 40% 50% 60%

How does Ranked Choice Voting work? Step 2: Count Votes (cont. ) 0% All first choices are counted. If a candidate gets more than half, they win, just like any other election. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters who picked that candidate as ‘number 1’ will have their votes count for their ‘number 2’ choice. 10% John Q 20% 25% Jane Doe Fred Rubble 30% 20% Mary Hill 15% Joe Smith 5% 5% 40% 50% 60%

How does Ranked Choice Voting work? Step 2: Count Votes (cont. ) 0% All first choices are counted. If a candidate gets more than half, they win, just like any other election. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters who picked that candidate as ‘number 1’ will have their votes count for their ‘number 2’ choice. 10% 20% John Q 30% Jane Doe Fred Rubble Mary Hill Joe Smith 30% 35% 20% 15% 40% 50% 60%

How does Ranked Choice Voting work? Step 2: Count Votes (cont. ) 0% All first choices are counted. If a candidate gets more than half, they win, just like any other election. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters who picked that candidate as ‘number 1’ will have their votes count for their ‘number 2 choice’. This process continues until a candidate wins with more than half of the votes. 10% 20% John Q 30% Jane Doe Fred Rubble Mary Hill Joe Smith 30% 35% 20% 15% 40% 50% 60%

How does Ranked Choice Voting work? Step 2: Count Votes (cont. ) 0% All first choices are counted. If a candidate gets more than half, they win, just like any other election. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters who picked that candidate as ‘number 1’ will have their votes count for their ‘number 2’ choice. This process continues until a candidate wins with more than half of the votes. 10% 20% John Q Mary Hill Joe Smith 40% 50% 30% Jane Doe Fred Rubble 30% 50% 20% 60%

We’re campaigning for Texas to adopt RCV • Nonpartisan, Nonprofit, Grassroots effort • Advocate for Texas to adopt Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) – Near Term: – For Military and Overseas voters – For Texas’ primary and special elections – For nonpartisan municipal and school district elections – Long Term: – For Texas’ local, state, and federal elections • We believe in a vibrant, competitive, inclusive democracy just as our Founding Fathers intended.

What can you do? • Support Texas adopting RCV (Ranked Choice Voting) by q q Signing-up as a Supporter on our website (RCVfor. Texas. org) ‘Liking’ us on social media (www. facebook. com/rcvfortx) Letting your elected representatives know you support RCV Inviting us to speak with your organizations/clubs (info@RCVfor. Texas. org) • Join our campaign q Donate to fund our website, printed materials, advertising q Outreach to the public about RCV, in-person and/or online q Support lobbying efforts for 2021’s legislative session

Ranked Choice Voting for Texas RCVfor. Texas. org info@RCVfor. Texas. org