Irvine’s City Council is moving closer to potentially implementing ranked-choice voting for local elections, with a decision expected to be put to voters in the upcoming general election.
On April 28, the council voted 4-3 to direct city staff to prepare the necessary documents for submission to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. If voters approve the measure in November, ranked-choice voting could be in place for Irvine’s city elections by 2028.
Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than selecting just one candidate. If no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to the voters’ next preferences. This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority.
Councilmembers Kathleen Treseder, Betty Martinez Franco, and Melinda Liu proposed the change, arguing that it could reduce negative campaigning and better reflect the electorate’s preferences. Treseder noted, “Ranked-choice voting would allow people to vote for the candidates they like most,” as reported by Voice of OC.
However, not all councilmembers are in favor. Councilmembers Mike Carroll and James Mai, along with Mayor Larry Agran, expressed concerns about the potential costs and the possibility of confusing voters who are accustomed to the current plurality voting system. Carroll emphasized the need to consider the financial impact, stating, “It’s a consultant’s invoice landing on a desk in a city that’s already tightening its belt.”
The city staff is expected to present a draft ordinance and a cost analysis for the new voting system at the next council meeting. The Orange County Registrar of Voters is also working on updating their systems to accommodate ranked-choice voting by 2028, which may incur additional costs for the city.
As Irvine considers this change, it joins a broader conversation on ranked-choice voting across the United States. According to Ballotpedia, several states have already implemented or are considering similar measures. The outcome of Irvine’s decision could set a precedent for other cities in Orange County.
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