The San Diego City Council's Government Efficiency and Openess Committee opened discussions on Monday to explore instant runoff voting as a cost-saving move.

"I believe we are the only jurisidiction" in San Diego County exploring this option, said City Clerk Elizabeth Maland. The clerk said that elections are run by the county. Any move to an instant runoff would need to involve the county in the decision process, Maland added.

Instant runoffs would allow voters to select candidates by order of preference, thereby avoiding a runoff election that would cost more money. Other cities in California are currently using the process, including San Francisco.

"Every voting system has its strengths and weaknesses," said Coucilman Tony Young. He said education was going to be key for the community if the city were to pursue instant runoffs.

"This is a fun academic discussion," Councilman Brian Maienschein. "I just don't know that the city council has a role in it."

Councilwoman Donna Frye suggested that a special committee be formed to discuss the elections issues that have confronted the city in recent years. She pointed out that rules between the city and county are different in different types of elections. "It's not fair for a candidate in a district election to" face rules in a district election that are different than rules in a city-wide election, Frye said.

Maienschein said he was unprepared to discuss a more general elections committee, since the hearing had been narrowly defined around instant runoffs.