LWV of the United States

Impact on Issues (2020-2022), page 47

https://www.lwv.org/impact-issues

The League’s Position Statement of Position on Voter Representation/Electoral Systems as adopted by concurrence by the 54th National Convention in June 2020:

LWVUS promotes an open governmental system that is representative, accountable, and responsive. We encourage electoral methods that provide the broadest voter representation possible and are expressive of voter choices.

Whether for single or multiple-winner contests, the League supports electoral methods that:

• Encourage voter participation and voter engagement
• Encourage those with minority opinions to participate, including under-represented communities
• Are verifiable and auditable
• Promote access to voting
• Maximize effective votes/minimize wasted votes
• Promote sincere voting over strategic voting
• Implement alternatives to plurality voting
• Are compatible with acceptable ballot-casting methods, including vote-by-mail

The LWVUS believes in representative government. The League supports electoral systems that elect policy-making bodies–-legislatures, councils, commissions, and boards—that proportionally reflect the people they represent. We support systems that inhibit political manipulation (e.g., gerrymandering). The LWVUS supports enabling legislation to allow local jurisdictions to explore alternative electoral methods, as well as supporting state election laws allowing for more options at both the state and local levels. With the adoption of any electoral system, the League believes that education of the voting public is important and funding for startup and voter education should be available. We encourage a concerted voter education process.

LWV of Virginia

Positioned for Action

https://lwv-va.org/?s=positioned+for+action

Electoral Systems (2021) page 6

LWV-VA recognizes the deficiencies of the current plurality system and supports the introduction of alternative electoral systems such as ranked choice voting:

• Supporting the option for localities to utilize Ranked Choice Voting for local elections, both single- and multi-winner. Localities opting to use RCV should consider the need for voter education in planning for these elections.
• Supporting the expanded use of Ranked Choice Voting in state-run primaries
• Supporting implementation of Ranked Choice Voting that allows for all candidates in a race to be ranked.
• Supporting use of Ranked Choice Voting beyond local elections, after Ranked Choice Voting in local Virginia elections has been shown to meet the criteria listed in the LWVUS Impact on Issues 2020-2022.

Virginia Study on Election Laws including RCV:  https://lwv-va.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FINAL-Revised-Election-Position-Part-2-Report-2021-0221.pdf