[EL] (Not Really) ranked-choice voting in SF

Mon Nov 7 08:58:39 PST 2011

In San Francisco voters rank only their top three choices, not all of the
candidates. As a result many voters do not participate in the final "run
off," because all three of their choices have been eliminated in previous
rounds.

Unlike those voters who choose not to turn out in a traditional runoff
election, these SF voters have no way to know that their choices will be
eliminated, and they have no way to register their preference among the
final runoff candidates.

I have not personally confirmed this, but I saw one study that found none of
the winners using SF's system have ever won with a majority of voters
supporting them. In every case, drop-off from all three choices losing led
to wins by plurality. I'd be interested to know if that study's been
confirmed or disproven.

- Doug

Douglas Johnson

Fellow

Rose Institute of State and Local Government

m 310-200-2058

o 909-621-8159

douglas.johnson at cmc.edu

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
[mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Rick
Hasen
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 7:46 AM
To: law-election at UCI.EDU
Subject: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/7/11

LA Times Previews Pearce Recall Election in Arizona <http://electionlawblog.
org/?p=25125>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25125> November 7, 2011 8:38 am by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

One to watch
<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-recall-2011110
7,0,3155045.story> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25125&title=LA%20Times%20Previews%20Pearce%20Recall%20Election%20in%20
Arizona&description=> Share

Posted in recall elections <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=11>  | Comments
Off

“Obama’s strategic edge: cash to campaign everywhere”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25122>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25122> November 7, 2011 8:35 am by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The LA Times offers this front-page report
<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-states-strategy-
20111107,0,6320233.story> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25122&title=%E2%80%9CObama%E2%80%99s%20strategic%20edge%3A%20cash%20to
%20campaign%20everywhere%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> , campaigns
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>  | Comments Off

“Tell Americans to Vote, or Else” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25120>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25120> November 7, 2011 8:34 am by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

William Galston has written
<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinion/sunday/telling-americans-to-vote-
or-else.html?scp=1&sq=galston&st=Search> this NY Times oped.  I wrote
extensively on the topic of mandatory voting in the U.s. in this piece,
Voting without Law?, an older Penn Law Review article that I’ve recently
posted on SSRN <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1314963>
.

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25120&title=%E2%80%9CTell%20Americans%20to%20Vote%2C%20or%20Else%E2%80
%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>  |
Comments Off

“States With Strict Voter Photo ID Laws More Than Tripled In 2011″
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25117>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25117> November 7, 2011 8:30 am by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

ABC News reports
<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/states-with-strict-voter-photo
-id-laws-more-than-trippled-in-2011/> . See also this LA Times editorial
<http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-vote-20111107,0,6967596
.story> , “Can’t We All Just Vote?”

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25117&title=%E2%80%9CStates%20With%20Strict%20Voter%20Photo%20ID%20Law
s%20More%20Than%20Tripled%20In%202011%E2%80%B3&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> ,
voter id <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>  | Comments Off

“County plans to prevent provisional ballot problems”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25114>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25114> November 7, 2011 8:24 am by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

An important story
<http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201111060522/NEWS0108
/111070301>  in the Cincinnati Enquirer, which also discusses the Hunter
litigation.

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25114&title=%E2%80%9CCounty%20plans%20to%20prevent%20provisional%20bal
lot%20problems%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>  |
Comments Off

“Ranked Choice Put To The Test In S.F. Mayor Race”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25111>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25111> November 7, 2011 8:21 am by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NPR reports
<http://www.npr.org/2011/11/07/142080926/ranked-choice-put-to-the-test-in-s-
f-mayor-race> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25111&title=%E2%80%9CRanked%20Choice%20Put%20To%20The%20Test%20In%20S.
F.%20Mayor%20Race%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in alternative voting systems <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=63>  |
Comments Off

“Small Elections Drawing Big Money In Some States”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25108>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25108> November 6, 2011 9:53 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NPR reports
<http://www.npr.org/2011/11/06/142079610/small-elections-drawing-big-money-i
n-some-states?ft=1&f=1014&sc=tw> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25108&title=%E2%80%9CSmall%20Elections%20Drawing%20Big%20Money%20In%20
Some%20States%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> , campaigns
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>  | Comments Off

“Independent committees obscure campaign fund trail”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25105>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25105> November 6, 2011 9:46 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The SF Chronicle reports
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/05/MNGM1LQAEL.DTL>
.

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25105&title=%E2%80%9CIndependent%20committees%20obscure%20campaign%20f
und%20trail%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>  | Comments
Off

“Democrats Target Restrictive Voter Laws”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25103>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25103> November 6, 2011 9:45 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NPR reports
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hPimbbqK_AlIlR0ICNTQqNo4
apOg?docId=CNG.ba960336eef0b6b64d443031b729e9c7.4d1> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25103&title=%E2%80%9CDemocrats%20Target%20Restrictive%20Voter%20Laws%E
2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The
Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>  | Comments Off

“Bring Same-Day Registration Back? Maine Votes”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25100>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25100> November 6, 2011 9:43 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NPR reports
<http://www.npr.org/2011/11/06/142063994/bring-same-day-registration-back-ma
ine-votes> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25100&title=%E2%80%9CBring%20Same-Day%20Registration%20Back%3F%20Maine
%20Votes%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> ,
voter registration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>  | Comments Off

WaPo Profile of Justice O’Connor Discusses Her Role on Judicial Selection
Changes <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25097>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25097> November 6, 2011 9:41 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/oconnor-breaks-ground-again-this-tim
e-as-a-former-supreme-court-justice/2011/10/24/gIQA3KRWtM_story.html> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25097&title=WaPo%20Profile%20of%20Justice%20O%E2%80%99Connor%20Discuss
es%20Her%20Role%20on%20Judicial%20Selection%20Changes&description=> Share

Posted in judicial elections <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=19>  |
Comments Off

“Popular fallacy: a public choice analysis of Electoral College reform”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25093>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25093> November 5, 2011 1:29 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Brandon Draper has written this article
<http://www.inderscience.com/storage/f428111210196573.pdf>  for the
International Journal of Public Law and Policy.  Here is the abstract:

This article contends that the demand for Electoral College reform that
occurs during every US presidential election season, most notably after the
2000 presidential election controversy, is largely misguided. Individuals
demanding reform mainly seek to replace the Electoral College with an
election system that, unlike the Electoral College, guarantees that the
winner earns the most national popular votes. However, public choice
provides a unique framework for assessing the inherent flaws of these
reforms against the Electoral College. This article, under a public choice
analysis, will seek to explain the deficiencies of the Electoral College,
but more importantly, explain why reforms to or the abolishment of the
Electoral College may either fail to solve US presidential election problems
or even exacerbate them.

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25093&title=%E2%80%9CPopular%20fallacy%3A%20a%20public%20choice%20anal
ysis%20of%20Electoral%20College%20reform%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in electoral college <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=44>  | Comments
Off

“Rules of the Game: Campaign Finance Rules Too Lax, Some Say”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25091>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25091> November 5, 2011 1:24 pm by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Eliza’s latest
<http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_54/Campaign-Finance-Rules-Too-Lax-Some-Sa
y-210064-1.html?pos=hln> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25091&title=%E2%80%9CRules%20of%20the%20Game%3A%20Campaign%20Finance%2
0Rules%20Too%20Lax%2C%20Some%20Say%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>  | Comments
Off

“Ohio Redistricting Compromise Looks ‘Dead’”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25088>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25088> November 5, 2011 11:21 am
by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Roll Call reports
<http://www.rollcall.com/news/Ohio-Redistricting-Compromise-Looks-Dead-21006
3-1.html?pos=hftxt> .

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25088&title=%E2%80%9COhio%20Redistricting%20Compromise%20Looks%20%E2%8
0%98Dead%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>  | Comments Off

“Cain’s Legal Team: The Bopp Connection”
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25085>

Posted on  <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25085> November 5, 2011 11:19 am
by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The WSJ Law Blog reports
<http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2011/11/04/cains-legal-team-the-bopp-connection/>
.

<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%
3Fp%3D25085&title=%E2%80%9CCain%E2%80%99s%20Legal%20Team%3A%20The%20Bopp%20C
onnection%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> , election
law biz <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=51>  | Comments Off

--
Rick Hasen
Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20111107/ca8a110c/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1520 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20111107/ca8a110c/attachment.png>