A look at Ranked Choice Voting with Josh Rosa

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Ranked Choice Voting had a bit of a “moment” in 2022, helping send Democrat Mary Peltola to congress in Alaska, and clearing a first-ballot hurdle for statewide acceptance in Nevada. This year, proponents of the RCV process got proposals on the ballot in four states (Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and the confirmation vote in NV), but ultimately found themselves on defense, losing all four, and also losing a Missouri ballot measure to ban the method from use in the state. A measure to repeal RCV in Alaska failed by just 743 votes. Conversely, use of RCV continues to expand in cities and other localities. In Washington DC, a measure to introduce RCV passed with over 70% of the vote this year.

Our guest today, Josh Rosa, is on the Steering Committee of Better Ballot Sacramento, an organization promoting adoption of Ranked Choice Voting in Sacramento. Rosa is a lecturer at Sacramento State and has a long history in the capitol community, including a stint in the Schwarzenegger administration. We chat about the various types of RCV and look at the pros and cons of the system.

Plus – Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

Show Notes:

3:06 What is Ranked Choice Voting?

6:26 Benefits

10:29 Downsides

13:23 What is driving newfound opposition to RCV?

17:05 How does the Sacramento plan stack up?

20:02 Insights?

26:47 #WWCA