7/27/2019 Memo Multi Seat Elections RCV 102513.pdf

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MEMORANDUM

To: Interested Parties

From: Jeanne Massey, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director

Subject: How Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Works in Multi-Seat Elections

In a multi-seat election, Ranked Choice Voting is applied in much in the same way as a single-seatelectionwith the simple and effective addition of transferring a winning candidates surplus votes tosecond-choice candidates. To win, candidates must receive a minimum threshold of support. Somecandidates might win with first-choice support, but most depend on second and third choices as well,fostering more inclusive campaigns.

Heres how it works:

1. The threshold to win is determined by dividing the total number of voters by the number of seats, thenadding 1.

2. Round 1 of counting begins, tallying first choices for all candidates.3. If any candidate surpasses the winning threshold in Round 1, that candidates surplus votes (votes

won beyond the necessary threshold to win), are then transferred proportionately to thosevoters second choices. In the example graphic below, Carlos won 18 (or 40%) more votes thanneeded to win the election, so 40% of each vote Carlos received is transferred to those voters secondchoices. In the example, of the 45 people who ranked Carlos their #1 choice, 15 ranked David their #2choice. 40% of 15 is 6 votes, so David is therefore awarded 6 more votes.

4. If no candidate reaches the threshold, the least popular candidate is defeated and those ballotsare transferred to remaining candidates based on those voters second choices.5. This process continues until all seats are filled.

Imagine it like this: You have $1.00 to buy your favorite candy bar. But if that candy bar only costs 60, you get to putyour other 40 towards your second favorite candy bar. The same process applies with RCV in multi-seat elections: Ifyour #1 choice candidate reaches the threshold of votes needed to win, his or her surplus votes are divided proportionatelyaccording to percentage and then awarded to those voters second choices.

7/27/2019 Memo Multi Seat Elections RCV 102513.pdf

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The more seats there are to fill, the greater the number of voters who will be represented.Whenused to elect multiple candidates in a single race, RCV ensures more voters are fairly represented.

Ranking is as easy as 1-2-3. As a voter, you rank the candidates in order of preference, just as you do inother races on the ballot.

Winners must have a minimum threshold of support. With more candidates to elect, the threshold towin is adjusted:

A candidate needs 33 percent plus one vote in the two-seat race for Board and Estimate andTaxation.

A candidate needs 25 percent plus one in the three-seat At-Large Park Board race.No wasted votes. As in single-seat races, all the first choices are tallied. If a candidate reaches thewinning threshold, that candidate is elected. If that candidate had more votes than needed to win, these

votes are not wasted; rather, those voters ballots continue to help elect other candidates according tothose voters second and third choices. The surplus votes for that candidate are reallocated to thesecond choices on those voters ballots, corresponding to the percentage of votes that the winningcandidate received over the necessary threshold.If no candidate has met the threshold after surplusreallocation, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and that candidates votes are reassigned toremaining candidates based on those voters second choices.

Upholds majority rule and represents more voters. This process of eliminating and electing candidatesand reallocating votes is repeated until all the seats are filled. The process minimizes wasted votes andyields more accurate and fairer representation of the voters than the old plurality system did 66 percentof voters help elect the two members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation and 75 percent of voters helpelect the three members of the Park Board.

First choices cant be harmed by second or third choices.Under the old system, second and thirdchoice votes could harm a voters first choice and the only way to prevent this from happening was bulletvoting.

In any RCV race, your second and third choices cant harm your first choice. Your second and thirdchoices only count once your first choice is elected or defeated.

For more information see:

How RCV Works: http://fairvotemn.org/howRCVworks MPR video on how RCV works in multiple winner elections:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNxwMdI8OWw