History of ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures
| Ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures | |
|---|---|
| Pages: • Ranked-choice voting (RCV) • History of RCV ballot measures • Electoral systems on the ballot • Local electoral systems on the ballot • Electoral systems by state | |
The ballot measure has played a role in shaping electoral systems in the U.S., including ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state and local elections.
Since 1915, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting systems. Ashtabula, Ohio, was the first jurisdiction to approve a ranked-choice voting measure in 1915.
RCV is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates on their ballots. RCV can be used for single-winner elections or multi-winner elections; when used for multi-winner elections, the system has also been called single-transferable vote or proportional representation. These terms were often used to describe multi-winner RCV before the 1970s. You can learn more about ranked-choice voting systems and policies here.
This page provides an overview of ranked-choice voting (RCV) state and local ballot measures since 1965.
- From 1965 through 2023, there were six statewide ballot measures in four states. Voters approved four (66.7%) and rejected two (33.3%).
- Ballotpedia has located 67 local ballot measures to adopt RCV. Voters approved 52 (77.61%) and rejected 15 (22.39%).
- There were seven local ballot measures to repeal RCV. Voters approved four (57.14%) and rejected three (42.86%).
- The year with the most local RCV ballot measures was 2022, when nine were on the ballot in nine jurisdictions. Voters approved seven of them.
- The state with the most local ballot measures related to RCV is California, where there have been 12.
On this page, you will find lists of states and local jurisdictions where RCV measures appeared on the ballot, and campaign finance information for political action committees surrounding state RCV ballot measures.
State ranked-choice voting ballot measures
Ranked-choice voting has been on the ballot six times in four states. All six measures were citizen-initiated measures. Four were approved, and two were defeated. Click here to read about the arguments and spending in support and opposition to the measures.
List of state ballot measures by year
2024
| State | Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | Ballot Measure 2 | Repeal the top-four ranked-choice voting (RCV) system that was adopted in 2020 |
|
159,955 (50%) |
160,619 (50%) |
|
| CO | Proposition 131 | Establish top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal and state offices in Colorado |
|
1,384,582 (46%) |
1,594,968 (54%) |
|
| ID | Proposition 1 | Establish top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal, state, and certain local offices in Idaho |
|
269,960 (30%) |
618,753 (70%) |
|
| MO | Amendment 7 | Prohibit ranked-choice voting (RCV) and the state local and governments from allowing noncitizens to vote |
|
1,952,138 (68%) |
899,408 (32%) |
|
| NV | Question 3 | Establish top-five primaries and ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal and state offices in Nevada |
|
664,011 (47%) |
747,719 (53%) |
|
| OR | Measure 117 | Establish ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal and state offices in Oregon |
|
882,651 (42%) |
1,206,468 (58%) |
2002—2023
The following table provides a list of state ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures:
| State | Year | Type | Measure | Yes | No | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 2022 | Initiative | Question 3: Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative | 52.94% | 47.06% |  |
| Alaska | 2020 | Initiative | Ballot Measure 2: Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative | 50.55% | 49.45% | |
| Massachusetts | 2020 | Initiative | Question 2: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative | 45.22% | 54.78% |  |
| Maine | 2018 | Initiative | Question 1: Ranked-Choice Voting Delayed Enactment and Automatic Repeal Referendum | 53.88% | 46.12% | |
| Maine | 2016 | Initiative | Question 5: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative | 52.12% | 47.88% | |
| Alaska | 2002 | Initiative | Ballot Measure 1: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative | 36.27% | 63.73% | |
Campaign finance totals
The following table lists each measure's support and opposition campaign totals, if available.
| Measure | Support | Opposition | Total | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2022) | $23,018,271.58 | $2,425,000.00 | $25,443,271.58 | |
| Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020) | $6,844,544.33 | $579,426.18 | $7,423,970.51 | |
| Massachusetts Question 2, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2020) | $10,179,108.24 | $8,475.74 | $10,187,583.98 | |
| Maine Question 1, Ranked-Choice Voting Delayed Enactment and Automatic Repeal Referendum (June 2018) | $1,577,811.98 | $0.00 | $1,577,811.98 | |
| Maine Question 5, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2016) | $2,944,419.44 | $0.00 | $2,944,419.44 | |
Top donors
Support
The table below lists the top five donors to campaigns supporting ranked-choice voting state ballot measures.
| Donor | Measure(s) | Contribution total |
|---|---|---|
| Action Now Initiative | Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2020) Maine Question 1 (2018) Maine Question 5 (2016) Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) Nevada Question 3 (2022) |
$10,592,933.00 |
| Katherine Gehl | Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) Nevada Question 3 (2022) |
$6,251,050.00 |
| Kathryn Murdoch | Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) | $5,000,000.00 |
| Unite America | Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2020) Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) Nevada Question 3 (2022) |
$4,558,500.00 |
| Kenneth Griffin | Nevada Question 3 (2022) | $3,000,000.00 |
Opposition
The table below lists the top five donors to campaigns opposing ranked-choice voting state ballot measures.
| Donor | Measure | Contribution total |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada Alliance | Nevada Question 3 (2022) | $1,665,000.00 |
| Nevada Conservation League | Nevada Question 3 (2022) | $310,000.00 |
| Majority Forward | Nevada Question 3 (2022) | $250,000.00 |
| Republican State Leadership Committee | Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2020) | $150,000.00 |
| Leadership in Nevada | Nevada Question 3 (2022) | $60,000.00 |
Local ranked-choice voting ballot measures
Between 1965 and 2023, 74 ranked-choice voting (RCV) local ballot measures were on the ballot in 54 jurisdictions in 18 states.
- California has had the most—12—local RCV ballot measures compared to other states.
- Colorado has had the second most—10—local RCV ballot measures.
There are also cities and counties that have adopted RCV without a ballot measure. A full list of jurisdictions where RCV has been adopted is available here.
The following map shows the local jurisdictions that have voted on ranked-choice voting ballot measures:
Timeline
From 1965 through 1997, seven local jurisdictions decided on six ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting (RCV). Four of those measures were to adopt RCV, and two of them were to repeal RCV.
Between 1998 and 2011, voters decided on 32 measures in 28 jurisdictions—approving 25 (78.13%) and rejecting seven (21.87%). There were no local measures on ballots again until 2015.
Between 2015 and November 2023, voters decided on 36 measures in 30 jurisdictions. Voters approved 29 (80.56%) and rejected seven (19.44%).
The year with the greatest number of local ranked-choice voting (RCV) measures on the ballot was 2022, when there were nine.
The following chart shows the number of ranked-choice voting ballot measures per year since 1965:
List of local ballot measures by topic
The following table shows the number of ranked-choice voting measures by topic.
| Local ranked-choice vote measures by topic and outcome, 1965 - 2023 | |||||
| Topic | Total | Approved | Approved (%) | Defeated | Defeated (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt RCV | 67 | 52 | 77.61% | 15 | 22.39% |
| Repeal RCV | 7 | 4 | 57.14% | 3 | 42.86% |
| Total | 74 | 56 | 75.68% | 18 | 24.32% |
List of local ranked-choice voting ballot measures
2024
The following is a list of local ballot measures related to ranked-choice voting in 2024:
| Jurisdiction | State | Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | CA | Measure L | Adopt ranked-choice voting for mayoral and city council elections |
|
18,365 (54%) |
15,702 (46%) |
|
| District of Columbia | DC | Initiative 83 | Establish ranked-choice voting for elections in Washington, D.C. |
|
210,549 (73%) |
78,555 (27%) |
|
| Oak Park | IL | Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative | Adopt ranked-choice voting to elect the Oak Park President and Village Board of Trustees |
|
22,347 (80%) |
5,756 (20%) |
|
| Peoria | IL | Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question | Advise the government to adopt ranked-choice voting |
|
23,027 (67%) |
11,277 (33%) |
|
| Bloomington | MN | Question 1 | Repeal ranked-choice voting for mayoral and city council elections |
|
23,360 (49%) |
24,596 (51%) |
1965—2023
The following table provides a list of ranked-choice voting local ballot measures from 1965 to 2023.
See also
- Ranked-choice voting (RCV)
- Electoral systems on the ballot
- Local electoral systems on the ballot
- Electoral systems by state
Footnotes
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