THE SCOOP: RCV FOR TEXAS UPDATES
Do Our Elected Officials Actually Represent the Majority of Voters in Their District?
Let's Turn Out Once Again for the Texas Primary Runoffs
Dallas City Charter Commission Forwards RCV Amendment to the City Council
Customize Your Communication Preferences
SPOTLIGHT: RCV Board Makes Plans for the Future
THE SCOOP: RCV FOR TEXAS UPDATES
Only a small fraction of Texans vote during the primaries. Because gerrymandering produces uncompetitive districts, primary voters decide the winners of the most influential races in the state. The Texas Tribune created a voting help desk text messaging line to guide you through the voting process this election year. You can sign up at the Voting Help Desk.
- Do Our Elected Officials Actually Represent the Majority of Voters in Their District?
On March 5th, Texans voted in our semi-open primary elections. Semi-open because in Texas you do not select your party affiliation when you register to vote but choose your party affiliation for the year when you vote in a primary. The results of the primary were astounding. Twenty-nine house Democrats and five Republicans had no primary or general opposition so will be returning to the House in 2025. Nine more Democrats and eighteen Republicans ran in contested primary elections but are unopposed in the general. What is amazing is the turnout ranges that led a candidate to win or qualify for a runoff — 2-7% for Democrats and 6% –18% for Republicans. If you think that our Texas House members represent a majority of their electorate, think again. No wonder voters are starting to wake up to the need for RANKED CHOICE VOTING where every vote counts and the majority rules.
2. Let's Turn Out Once Again for the Texas Primary Runoffs
Texas will hold its 2024 runoff elections May 28 to finalize which Democratic and Republican primary candidates will be on the ballot in the November general election. Early voting runs from May 20-24. During the March 5 primaries, no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote in 32 races, bringing about runoff races between the candidates who came in first and second. The winner will face the other major party’s nominee in that race, as well as possible third party candidates. If you voted in a party primary in March, you can vote only in that same party’s runoff. Voters who didn’t cast a ballot in the primary can vote in either party’s runoff. RCV for Texas has drafted questions to ask candidates when you attend a candidate forum. The runoffs provide a great opportunity to talk with voters where they vote and tell them about Ranked Choice Voting.
3. Dallas City Charter Commission Forwards RCV Amendment to the City Council
The Dallas Charter Review Commission has completed its once a decade process to amend its city charter, which includes how Dallas conducts its municipal elections. Commissioner David de la Fuente introduced Charter Amendment 2, which called for switching from a runoff election system to a ranked choice voting system once state law permits. The commissioners voted to forward the RCV amendment to the City Council for approval. Council members may approve, change, or disregard the commission’s recommendations. Any council-approved amendments will be listed as propositions on the November 5, 2024 ballot for Dallas voters.
4. Customize Your Communication Preferences
RCV for Texas is working on changes to communication preferences for supporters. New sign-ups can choose if they only want to receive Action Alerts, or also want to receive newsletters, or all meeting and other announcements too. Our current supporters will also be asked to specify their preferences. You can let us know your preferences now by filling out this short form.
SPOTLIGHT: RCV Board Make Plans for the Future
The RCV for Texas Board and several guests convened in March for a strategic planning meeting. The first session focused on how best to promote ranked choice voting in Texas with representatives from Virginia and Utah, who talked about their experience with instant runoffs in their states. Discussions covered implementation strategies and political party unity. The importance of understanding demographics, messaging, and potential policy changes based on election outcomes was emphasized. The group also discussed hiring a political consulting company with a successful track record to run the campaign to enact RCV.
During the second session, participants discussed how to use the information gained from the first session to make plans for the future. One decision was to hire a part-time Executive Director and Lora Schafer started this role in April. Founding Board Chair Harriet Wasserstrum has decided to spend more time closer to her family so will step down as Chair but continue on the Board. The search to identify both a Chair and one or two additional board members is ongoing. In addition, we are looking for funding to conduct a poll of Republican primary voters to find out how to best present our message.
RCV for Texas is working diligently to promote ranked choice voting so Texas can move toward a more vibrant, competitive, and inclusive democracy!
UPCOMING EVENTS
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May 28 at 6PM – Runoff Election Canvassing at the Polls: Why do we canvass? Because it works! We explain why and what we provide. RSVP here.
- June 18 at 6PM - Ranked Choice Voting Presentation: Hosted by the Ellis County Texas Democratic Women. RSVP here.
WHAT WE ARE READING
Editorial: The simple fix Anchorage municipal elections need - Anchorage Daily News
Alaskans have experienced ranked choice voting at the state level for the past two statewide elections. Many now realize that it would be a far more sensible system for municipal elections, rather than the current first past the post method.
Ethan Fitzgerald clinches SGA presidency by slim margin - The GW Hatchet
Ranked choice voting is used in many universities for student government elections. This article describes the process at George Washington University.
Ranked choice voting ban would be a slap in the face to Oklahoma military members - The Oklahoman
Our military members make giant sacrifices in defense or our most American right - the right to vote. Six southern states have allowed ranked choice voting for overseas military voters, to alleviate the delays involved with completing the voting process. Now, Oklahoma politicians are trying to ban ranked choice voting for all Oklahomans, which would eliminate the possibility that military voters will ever get the chance to fully participate in our democracy.
Opposing ranked choice voting is undemocratic - Bleeding Heartland
Much criticism is leveled at the two major U.S. political parties for having a tight grip on American politics, but the ballot methods is as much to blame as the parties themselves. This article discusses reasons why the first past the post voting is a poor system for representative democracy and how ranked choice voting is not only a superior voting method in general, but one that also serves democracy better.
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