TONIGHT! Learn about RANKED VOTING & how Hoboken can get it

7:00 PM  

Hoboken Public Library

500 Park Avenue 

hosted by 

Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro 

Councilwoman At-Large Emily Jabbour
____________________ 

RANKED VOTING
First, ranked voting has to become a legal option in New Jersey before it can pass by resolution at the Hoboken.

Hoboken's Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro has co-sponsored  Bill A-1801: "AN ACT permitting use of instant run-off voting in balloting for certain local elective public offices, has to pass both state houses before it comes here.  What is the problem?  After A-1801 was introduced on January 9, 2018, it went to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee where it is currently getting freezer burn.

So what exactly is ranked voting, and how would it work in Hoboken? 

Verbatim from Chaparro's Bill:   

1. "In each such election the first choice vote of each voter for each race shall be counted first. 
2. If, after all ballots are counted, a candidate has obtained a majority of the first choice votes for that race, further counting is not necessary, and that candidate shall be declared the winner. 
3. If no candidate has obtained a majority of first choice votes, then the candidate with the fewest number of first choice votes shall be declared eliminated, and the second choice votes of voters who voted for this candidate shall be transferred to the next choice continuing candidate marked on each continuing ballot, and added to that continuing candidate's vote total. 
4. However, if the total of the votes of the two or more candidates credited with a low number of votes is less than the number of votes credited to the candidate with the next highest number of votes, these candidates shall be declared defeated simultaneously and their votes transferred to the next choice continuing candidate marked on each ballot in a single counting operation. 
5. If the next-choice candidate has been eliminated, the vote shall be transferred to the next-choice candidate who is a continuing candidate. After this tabulation, if no continuing candidate receives a majority of the votes, then the continuing candidate with the fewest votes shall be declared defeated. 
6. This process of eliminating last-place candidates, transferring ballots from these candidates, and adding them to the totals of continuing candidates shall proceed until a candidate has a majority of the ballots, in which case that candidate is elected, or there is a tie between all remaining continuing candidates. 
7. If, in any election, a ballot has no more available preferences stated, that ballot shall be declared exhausted and shall not be counted further.  A ballot assigning the same ranking to more than one candidate for an office shall be declared exhausted when the double ranking is reached. If a ballot skips a ranking then the next ranking shall be counted. If there is a tie between candidates, the procedures otherwise provided by law shall be followed."

It sounds complicated, but it's just math.  If your #1 guy or gal has the lowest vote count, your vote doesn't get tossed, it gets transferred to your next ranked continuing candidate- and if your next ranked candidate has been eliminated, your vote hops over to your next continuing candidate... and so on.

CLICK HERE to see the status of ranked choice legislation by state.

WHY IS A-1801 IN THE ASSEMBLY'S DEEP-FREEZE?

This won't be easy. 

PACs, non-profit corporations and other dark money special interests are not looking for more democracy, but less.  Low turnout run-off elections are targeted by such shadowy entities, often with spurious last-minute attacks to suppress voter enthusiasm. Ranked voting will eliminate run-off elections, save taxpayer money, save our mailboxes from 5 weeks of PAC-SPAM, but best of all it is fair;  all voter choices determine outcome.  

But maybe the biggest obstacle to passing ranked voting legislation is resistance at the highest levels of state and federal government. State and county bosses hold on to power by picking and choosing "their" people for office. Voters don't want to "throw their vote away" on someone who they believe has no chance against a major party candidate chosen by a mighty political boss.  Ranked voting puts the choice back in the hands of the people; every vote counts, any candidate can win.  

That is why we have to get it done! Hoboken Assemblywoman Chaparro, At-Large Councilwoman Emily Jabbour have been working together, and Fair Vote activist Chris Adair are on it.  Come to the meeting tonight, and find out what we can do to help.

Below are the members of the Committee that has not yet scheduled a session for A-1801. 

State and Local Government

Mazzeo, Vincent - Chair    View Votes Sumter, Shavonda E. - Vice-Chair    View Votes Carroll, Michael Patrick    View Votes McKnight, Angela V.    View Votes Peters, Ryan E.    View Votes Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina    View Votes