"In the middle of a historic budget crisis, Santa Clara County is being forced to make painful choices. Public health clinics are bracing for staff reductions. Social workers are trying to do more with less. Even with the passage of Measure A, the county will have to do more with less because of the devastating effects of federal spending cuts."
"RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no one wins an immediate majority, an instant runoff is conducted automatically during that same election by counting voters' next choices. It ensures the winner earns majority support without requiring the county to run a second, expensive, stand-alone election two months later. For off-cycle special elections, particularly those triggered by unexpected resignations or vacancies, RCV is a more responsible use of public money."
Santa Clara County faces a historic budget crisis requiring cuts to public services. Millions are being spent on two elections to fill a single county office, with the special election and runoff originally estimated at about $26 million. The county will absorb the full Dec. 30 runoff cost. Low turnout is likely on Dec. 30 because many voters will be traveling, distracted, or checked out. Ranked choice voting (RCV) would produce an instant majority winner and avoid a costly second election. County voting equipment and state law already support RCV; voters approved instant runoff voting 25 years ago.
Read at The Mercury News
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