Oregon Legislature Sends Ranked Choice Voting Proposal to Voters on the November 2024 Ballot

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 27, 2023

Graphics: Oregon RCV, City of Portland

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) 

Today’s Links now below the script

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Oregon voters will have an opportunity to approve statewide Ranked Choice Voting, after the Oregon Senate referred it Sunday to the November 2024 ballot.

The action is the first for a state legislature.  Maine and Alaska have statewide ranked choice voting through a citizen ballot initiative, not legislation. The Oregonian reports that the referral was championed primarily by Democrats, but the measure has some Republican support.

The Voter Choice Act would implement RCV in the 2028 election for the offices of President, U.S.Senator, Congress, Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General.   It also allows its use for elections in local government, counties, and school districts, and allocates money to educate the public on how to use it.

Voters would rank their choices of candidates in order of preference.   If one candidate receives 50%+1 first place votes, that candidate is the winner.   If 50% isn’t reached, the lowest vote-getting candidate is eliminated, and votes are recalculated using second and third choices until a majority winner is reached. 

KTVZ 21 reports that Benton County and the city of Corvallis already use RCV for local elections, and it was recently adopted in Multnomah County, passing with 69% support. 

We have Oregon’s RCV proposal and a tool to see how Ranked Choice Voting works at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The Oregonian – Ranked-choice voting could come to Oregon, if voters say yes in 2024
KTVZ 21 – Oregon lawmakers send ranked choice voting proposal to November 2024 ballot
Oregon State Legislature – House Bill 2004 as Approved Sunday, June 25, 2023

Oregon Capital Chronicle – Tumultuous Oregon legislative session ends with historic investments, historic rancor

Fair Vote – How Ranked Choice Voting Works
RCV123 –  Use RCV to Rank Your Favorite Alaska Animal


Groups Taking Action:
Oregon Ranked Choice Voting, Coalition of Communities of Color, Next Up Action Fund, Urban League of Portland, Rural Organizing Project, Oregon AFSCME, AFT-OR, and the League of Women Voters of Oregon


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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RCV #RankedChoiceVoting