South Carolina just finished their primary election cycle, and thanks to recent changes in their absentee voting policies brought about by the passage of a state IRV bill this past legislative session, previously disenfranchised uniformed and overseas voters got a better chance to have their voices heard via a special instant runoff ballot.

This ballot was mailed out with the regular primary absentee ballot. Uniformed and overseas voters were given the option to rank their candidate preferences on the special IRV ballot in advance so that in the case of a runoff they would not have to worry that their runoff ballots might arrive to late to fill out, get returned in the mail, and be counted.

DATA ATTESTS TO
THE BENEFITS OF IRV BALLOTS:

Study Abstract July 24th, 2006

Early results from South Carolina indicate that this program has been very successful. More than 70% of UOCAVA voters submitted ballots for both the primary and runoff. Runoffs were required this year in a statewide Republican election for lieutenant governor and for some Democratic state legislative and local elections. In the past, very few UOCAVA voters were able to participate in such runoffs because of the election schedule.

Of the IRV ballots submitted in the 24 counties where FairVote has obtained information, 94% of ballots cast for a runoff were valid and counted, showing high comprehension of the new system. In the eight counties where both Democratic and Republican voters had runoff elections, the valid ballot rate in the runoff count was fully 100% -- with all 62 of these voters casting valid ballots.

Election administrators also are positive about the new system. David Alford, Director of Colleton County elections, noted that there were no phone calls or reported problems with the instant runoff ballots. Mr. Alford believes that the state's clear instructions paid off, as all instant runoff ballots in his county were sent back without voter error. Altogether, he thinks that the new runoff ballots are "a well thought-of solution to the short window problem."

FairVote drafted a phone survey, which we then used as a basis for calls to local election administrators in counties whose primary results mandated a second "run-off" election be held to arrive to the Democratic or Republican nominee. The phone survey consisted of the following set of questions: