San Francisco Takes the Lead in New Voting Method [View All]

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S.F. Takes the Lead in New Voting Method

In November, voters will select their first, second and third choices for candidates in city races.

By Lee Romney, Times Staff Writer


SAN FRANCISCO — The city that brought the nation beat poetry, free love and sourdough bread now is taking on election reform. With a quiet nod from the secretary of state, San Francisco will soon let voters rank multiple candidates in citywide elections, a system that proponents say would eliminate the "spoiler" problem if used nationwide.

In November, San Francisco will become the first U.S. city to adopt the voting method since a short-lived experiment three decades ago in Michigan.

Under the system, voters will rank their top three candidates in order of preference. If no one wins 50% of the votes when first choices are tallied, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated. The second choice of those voters is then added to the remaining candidates' tallies. The process — which some call an instant runoff — continues until a majority winner emerges.

The voting method has been touted recently by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, among others.

It will make its biggest U.S. debut in a city proud of its political nonconformity. It is also a city that has been plagued by election debacles in past years....cont'd

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-vote9aug09,1,2975653.story?coll=la-home-politics