Ranked Choice Voting

A speaker at the podium during item 4 urged the Commission to vote in favor of the ranked choice voting letter.

MPA student and RCV advocate since 2022 said RCV is a common-sense reform that saves money and reduces political apathy.

Signature gatherer said voters across the spectrum agreed RCV should at least go on the ballot, and cited Oakland's female mayors elected under RCV.

30-year West Side resident supported the measure going to a vote, while noting signature-gathering challenges and concerns about federal voting rulings.

League of Women Voters board member signed the petition and stressed voter education, transparency in vote counting, and waiting for LA County's new counting system.

Longtime voter said this was the first primary she didn't want to vote in, and urged the Commission to consider RCV to bring exciting new candidates forward.

RCV in the LBC member urged the Commission to support putting ranked choice voting on the ballot so voters can decide, noting most council races are decided in low-turnout primaries.

Co-chair of RCV in LBC and Pokemon Go Long Beach founder asked the Commission for its leadership in forwarding the recommendation to City Council, invoking Women's Equality Day.

Added that petition signatures included zip codes and that exit polls in RCV cities show voters understand and like the system after initial education.

Asked the ad hoc presenters what the optimal timing would be to implement ranked choice voting given California's fixed primary schedule.

Asked the council to put a ranked choice voting charter measure on the November ballot.

Urged the council to put RCV on the ballot, citing a 13-organization coalition and nearly 1,000 petition signatures.

Urged the council to put a ranked choice voting measure on the November ballot.

Explained the logistics: LA County's voting software doesn't yet support RCV, so a ballot measure with a trigger clause would position Long Beach to adopt it when available.

Asked the council to advance a charter amendment bringing ranked choice voting to Long Beach, citing 1,000+ signatures and support from 13 community groups.

A member of Long Beach's ranked choice voting group urged the commission to consider ranked choice voting, arguing it gives voters more ethical representation, reduces elections, and helps less affluent candidates and voters compete. He also questioned the transparency of 3 PM meeting times.

A steering member of the RCV coalition and DSA member thanked the commission for its due diligence and said ranked choice voting has proven results for Long Beach.

An RCV coalition co-chair described the grassroots growth of the campaign and thanked the commission for moving it toward policy.

Warned that the federal SAVE Act contains a ban on ranked choice voting and urged the commission to act as a stand against authoritarianism.

An LA resident said Los Angeles chose a costly public financing match instead of RCV and called RCV the cheaper, better option.

A District 4 resident since 1972 and CLUE member urged the commission to support ranked choice voting, saying it empowers voters and lowers barriers for candidates.

A steering committee member said Long Beach is small enough that local action could ripple up to county, state, and national adoption of RCV.

Urged the commission to go beyond receiving the presentation and recommend a study or endorsement to the city council, where the power to act lies.

A CLUE member said more people participating means more people will participate, and praised the young people engaged in the effort.

A District 1 resident argued RCV would re-empower voters over money-driven negative campaigns and said Long Beach could lead California and the nation.