Opinion: This Election Will Create More Diverse Representation in NYC—Thanks to Ranked Choice Voting

This article is about the NYC City Council poised to become majority female-led with the help of the Ranked-Choice Voting system, citing the 2020 RCV Report. Read an excerpt below:

Research shows that ranked choice voting results in more wins for candidates of color, especially women. For one, it’s easier for women to run in ranked choice voting elections. When candidates are gunning for second and third rankings in addition to firsts, there’s an incentive toward more positive, issue-based campaigning. Evidence suggests that women are more likely to run in a positive campaign environment without attack ads and with more focus on substance. And more of them can run for the same seat because ranked choice voting eliminates vote splitting. This means voters who choose to prioritize women on their ballots could cast their votes for all of the women running for their district’s City Council seats. The proof is in the results.

Yes, the Board of Elections’ mistake last week was unacceptable. New Yorkers deserve election administrators who are competent, thorough, and don’t let anything slip through the cracks. Board of Elections reform is an urgent issue—but those who are claiming that this has anything to do with ranked choice voting are knowingly misleading the public. It was human error, plain and simple. Remember: even without these shenanigans, we still wouldn’t have the final results yet. Absentee ballots are only now being counted—per pro-voter reforms written into state law—and we can expect the final results the week of July 12. For contrast, just look at the Manhattan District Attorney’s race, where they don’t have ranked choice voting but they’re still subject to the same timeline to account for absentee ballots. So instead of spending $15 million on a costly run-off election where only a third of those who voted would show up again, we’re making sure that 1.1 million New Yorkers who voted this June have a say.

Ranked choice voting is good for New York. That’s why 74 percent of voters approved it in 2019, and in exit polling conducted during early voting and on primary day this year, 77 percent of New Yorkers said they’d like to continue ranking their votes. Of voters this year, 83 percent ranked more than one candidate, and 95 percent found their ballots simple to complete. New Yorkers should have the method of voting they want and like.

Read the full article here.

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