Changes are afoot in the 2020 Democratic Primaries and Caucuses with as many as Six States Plan to use Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in these Important Primary and Caucus Contests.
Traditional In-Person Caucuses will Allow Participants to Move to a Backup Choice and have their Vote Continue to Count for a Candidate with enough Support to Earn Delegates. RCV is similar to that Process because it gives Voters that Same Power and can easily be Adapted to Fit a Party’s Delegate Rules.
RCV will be used for All Early Voters in Iowa and Nevada and for All Voters in Alaska, Hawaii, and Kansas.
These State Party Leaders understand that Limiting Voters to a Single Choice Poorly Accommodates a Crowded Field of Well-Qualified Candidates because it results in ‘Spoilers,’ Vote-Splitting, and Greater Potential of a Nominee who doesn’t have Majority Support within the Party.
Polls show that more than 98% of Democratic Voters already will indicate their Second Choice Candidate, and comparable Numbers will likely be able to Indicate Ranking additional Candidates as they Learn more about the Field.
Republicans showed Interest in this Proposal in 2016, and might use of RCV in their Next Open Seat Presidential Primary.
Democratic State Parties in Caucus States are the Only States Committed to using RCV in 2020.
Iowa Democrats Submitted the Party’s Final Delegate Selection Plan to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). 10% of its Delegates went to Early Voters, and Early Voters used RCV Ballots. Delegates will be Awarded Separately.
Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas, and Wyoming Democrats Finalized Delegate Selection Plans where All Voters will cast RCV Ballots, with most likely Casting their Ballots by Mail.
Nevada's Plan suggests RCV will be used for its Early Voters, but the Details are still being Finalized. Likely its Early Vote Ballots will be Tallied together with In-Person Caucus Voting.
Maine has Legislation that Proposed RCV in a State-Financed Primary.
Those casting RCV Ballots will Rank the Candidates. If their First Choice has at least 15%, their Ballot will Count for that Candidate. If their First Choice is in Last Place and/or Below 15%, their Vote will Count for their Second Choice. This will Continue until All Candidates are above 15%.
These Tallies will be done Statewide and by Congressional District, just like Non-RCV Tallies.
How RCV works for Presidential Nominations:
The 15% Threshold set by the DNC means that in Primaries without RCV, any Presidential Candidate who receives Less than 15% of the Caucus or Primary Vote, either in a Congressional District or Statewide, will Not Earn any Delegates, and their Supporters’ Votes will Not help Nominate Delegates nor Help determine who is the Strongest Candidate among the Top Candidates.
When RCV is used, more Votes Count. This is how the Tally will be done: There will be One RCV Tally Statewide and One for Each Congressional District, as Democrats Award Delegates based on Both of those Results. Delegates are then Allocated Proportionally.
Voters in Cities that use RCV reported more Civil and Issue-Focused Campaigns and Elections than those in Non-RCV Cities, and more Women and People of Color Won Elections since RCV Adopted. Voter Turnout is Up significantly in Mayoral Elections in Cities using RCV, including in 2017-2018 in Minneapolis, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and St. Paul.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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