2023 Position Request: Ranked Choice Voting
The LWV Chicago Board of Directors approved this recommendation at their June 13 meeting:
The Voter Services Committee Chair requests that the LWV Chicago membership adopt a position at the Annual Meeting on June 24 in support of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for municipal elections in the City of Chicago.
This item will be on the agenda of the Annual Meeting. If adopted, members could advocate for Ranked Choice Voting on behalf of the League as part of the larger Fair Vote Illinois project underway to achieve Ranked Choice Voting for Chicago in time for the 2027 mayoral and city council elections.
Immediate action is recommended because of the momentum building on this issue following the recent Chicago mayoral and city council elections. Both the 2019 and the 2023 municipal election results indicate concerns with the current system. LWV Chicago should be able to participate in changing the current Chicago runoff system.
Is LWV Chicago Ready to Adopt a Position?
The Voter Services Committee believes that the membership will be ready to show agreement on this issue.
LWVUS and LWVIL have positions approving the use of RCV for elections. They do not support or oppose the process itself.
Members are increasingly aware of the flaws in the current system.
LWV Chicago members have been informed about Ranked Choice Voting.
League educational opportunities for Chicago League members have included the following:
At an in-person LWV Chicago Briefing held on February 5, 2020, Buffalo Grove League member Victor Shi presented an educational program on Ranked Choice Voting. View the presentation.
Rob Richie, President of the Fair Vote, the national nonprofit organization founded by Illinoisan John Anderson among others, was the guest speaker at a League of Women Voters of Illinois briefing on April 5, 2021. LWV Chicago member Sharon Alter arranged this program. Watch the program recording.
LWV Chicago’s Zooming with the Aldermen project gave those watching the series an opportunity to hear aldermen answer a question about RCV and hear their ideas pro and con RCV.
LWV Chicago has posted RCV information on this page prior to the Annual Meeting. We recommend that members read this informational report on RCV to learn more. We have also prepared information on opposition to Ranked Choice Voting.