VOTING AND ELECTIONS REFORM VICTORY!
In 2008, 71% of Memphis voters approved Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in an attempt to improve their overall voting system. Now, almost a decade later, politicians put an initiative on the November ballot to trick the voters into overturning their own vote and repealing IRV. That initiative has now been defeated by the people of Memphis!
Referendum to Repeal Instant Runoff Voting
Save IRV Memphis/Vote No on all November 6th Referenda
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), also known as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), allows voters to choose their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice in each race on the ballot. Additional benefits to using Instant Runoff Voting: Increased voter participation, saving taxpayer dollars by making elections more efficient, receiving faster results by avoiding the 6-week wait, it lessens the role of big donors in local politics, reducing the incentive for campaigns to “go negative,” and empowers minority communities who are disproportionately impacted by voter exhaustion in the old system.
Some members of the Memphis City Council brought this ballot initiative to overturn the will of the voters before implementing this crucial voting reform. A ‘no’ vote will preserve instant runoff voting for future elections.
Scale: Municipal
Type: Ballot Measure
Category: Voting & Elections Reform
Policy Summary: Repeal of Ranked Choice Voting
Status: On the Nov. 2018 ballot