speaker bureau presentation
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Ranked Choice Voting 101
Agenda
• What is Ranked Choice Voting?
• How Do I Vote?
• How Will the Votes Be Counted?
• How Can I Help?
The Election
• November 3, 2009 is Election Dayo There is no primary in 2009
• Municipal elections onlyo Mayor, City Council, Park Board, Board of Estimate and Taxation
• Only in the City of Minneapolis
What is Ranked Choice Voting?
• Voters rank up to three candidates for each race.
• In 2006, Minneapolis voters approved using Ranked Choice Voting for Municipal Elections.
• This upcoming election will be the first time that voters in Minneapolis will use this new voting method.
How Do I Vote?
• Step 1 – Get a Ballot
• Sign-in or register to vote• Demonstration Judge will
provide instructions on how to vote with a ranked choice voting ballot
• Have the choice of voting using either a pen or the AutoMARK
How Do I Vote?
• Step 2 – Vote
• Vote by filling in an oval on a paper ballot• Rank candidates in order of preference
How Do I Vote?
• Step 2 – Vote
• Make your first choice in the first column on the left
• Mark your second choice in the second column, if you have one
• Mark your third choice in the third column, if you have one
How Do I Vote?
• Step 2 – Vote
• Election officials will not use your second or third choice unless your first choice has already been eliminated or elected.
How Do I Vote?
• Step 3 – What Not to Do
• Skipping a column before or between ranked candidates
How Do I Vote?
• Step 3 – What Not to Do
• Marking the same candidate in more than one column
How Do I Vote?
• Step 3 – What Not to Do
• Marking more than one candidate for office in the same column
How Do I Vote?
• Step 3 – What Not to Do
• REMEMBER! – You can only vote for one at-large Park Board candidate and Board of Estimate and Taxation candidate per column
How Do I Vote?
• Step 3 – What Not to Do
• REMEMBER! – You can only vote for one at-large Park Board candidate and Board of Estimate and Taxation candidate per column
How Do I Vote?
• Step 4 – Cast your Ballot
• Look over your ballot one last time
• Feed the ballot into the ballot counter and wait for it to accept your ballot.
• If the machine does not accept your ballot ask an election judge for assistance.
How are the Votes Counted?
• The first choice votes for all candidates are sorted and counted.
• If no candidate receives the required number of votes to win, a process of eliminating candidates and considering subsequent choices begins.
The Counting Process Begins
• Fixes voter error• All errors and remedies are outlined in the city
ordinance
• Count write-in candidates
• Hand count all offices
The Threshold
1Number of seats + 1
+ 1 vote
• The number of votes necessary to win
Single Seat Elections
• If no one passes the threshold (50% + 1 vote) the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
• The second choice votes from the eliminated candidate are redistributed.
• Counting continues until a winner is declared.
Single Seat Example: Round 1
Candidates Votes
Pershing 1,000
North Commons 800
Matthews 700
Wirth 500
TOTAL 3,000
Single Seat Example:The Threshold
(Total votes/2) + 1 vote = Threshold
(3,000/2) + 1 = 1,501
Single Seat Example: Round 2
Candidates Round 1 results
Redistribution Round 2results
Pershing 1,000 0 1,000
North Commons
800 +250 1,050
Matthews 700 +250 950
Wirth 500 -500 0
TOTAL 3,000 3,000
Single Seat Example: Round 3
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Candidates
Round 1 results
Round 2 results
Redistribution
Round 3 Results
Pershing 1,000 1,000 0 1,000
North Commons
800 1,050 +950 2,000
Mathews 700 950 -950 0
Wirth 500 0 0 0
TOTAL 3,000 3,000 3,000
Multiple Seat Elections• The threshold is calculated.
o Park Board At-Large: 25% + 1 voteo Board of Estimate and Taxation: 33% + 1 vote
• If all the seats are not filled during the first round, mathematical elimination begins.
• The second choice votes from the mathematically eliminated candidate are redistributed.
• This continues until there are no more candidates that can be mathematically eliminated.
Multiple Seat Elections Continued
• If candidates have votes over the threshold, their surplus votes are proportionally redistributed.
• Mathematical elimination begins again if there are no more surplus votes.
• This continues until all the seats are filled.
Park Board Example:Round 1
Candidates Votes
Lake Nokomis 1,300
Lake Harriet 850
Lake Hiawatha 750
Lake Calhoun 710
Brownie Lake 390
TOTAL 4,000
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Park Board Example:The Threshold
4,000/4 + 1 = 1,001
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Park Board Example:Round 2
Candidates Round 1 results Redistribution Round 2 results
Lake Nokomis 1,300 1,300
Lake Harriet 850 850
Lake Hiawatha 750 +300 1,050
Lake Calhoun 710 +90 800
Brownie Lake 390 -390 0
TOTAL 4,000 4,000
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Park Board Example:Surplus
surplus votes= surplus fractiontotal votes
299= .231,300
Park Board Example: Distributing the Surplus
Of all the 1,300 voters who ranked Lake Nokomis first…
1,250 ranked Lake Calhoun second
50 ranked Lake Hiawatha second
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Park Board Example:Distributing the Surplus
Lake Calhoun: 1,250 x .23 = 287.5
Lake Hiawatha: 50 x .23 = 11.5
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Park Board Example:Round 3
Candidates Round 1 results
Round 2 results
Redistribution Round 3 results
Lake Nokomis 1,300 1,300 -299 1,001
Lake Harriet 850 850 +11.5 861.5
Lake Hiawatha 750 1,050 1,050
Lake Calhoun 710 800 +287.5 1,087.5
Brownie Lake 390 0 0
TOTAL 4,000 4,000 4,000
Counting by Hand
• A hand count is required by state law
o No federally certified equipment for Ranked Choice Voting
o Results will be released as they are known.
Educating the Public
• Speakers Bureau
• Outreach to Community Partners
• Neighbor to Neighbor Engagement
• Mail to Voters
• Tour of the City – 14 events in 14 nights
How Can You Help
1. Request a Speaker
2. Distribute Materials
3. Recruit Volunteers
4. Display Educational Posters
5. Send us your Feedback
Questions?
For more information:
• Call – 311• Visit – www.voteminneapolis.org• E-mail – [email protected]