Columbia, SC – Today multiple groups rallied at the South Carolina State House in support House Bill 4022, which would give municipalities the option to use Instant Runoff Voting in elections for local officials. Currently there are already three election methods municipalities can use.
H.4022 is on the agenda for discussion by the House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee on Thursday, January 25th.
Instant Runoff Voting, growing in popularity, is a simple election system change—used by over 50 cities, counties, and states across the country—that saves cities money and effort while resulting in consensus majority election winners. Instant Runoff Voting does not favor any political party and has no impact on incumbents’ ability to be re-elected. Polls have shown that voters like Instant Runoff Voting and find it easy to understand.
Here is how Instant Runoff Voting works.
Voters can rank as many candidates as they want on the ballot in order of preference. All first choices are tallied and if a candidate receives more than half of the first choices, that candidate wins, just like in any other election.
If there is no majority winner after counting first choices, the race is decided by an “instant runoff.”
The candidate with the fewest first choice votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate as their top choice will have their next choice counted.
This process continues until there is a candidate winning a majority of the votes.
“Whether you occupy a nonpartisan or partisan office, instant runoff voting is a no-brainer,” said City of Charleston Council member Karl Brady. “It saves the taxpayers money and has the added benefit of allowing the voters to have more agency in the voting booth. It’s a win-win all the way around.”
Also speaking at the rally in support of H.4022 were:
Representative Neal Collins (R-Pickens County), co-sponsor of H.4022.
Representative Jermaine Johnson (D-Richland County), co-sponsor of H.4022.
