A Success Story in California
University of California, Davis
An Exemplary Case for Campus to Community Choice Voting
On February 20, 2003, UC-Davis students adopted choice voting for student senate elections. The proponents of the change have compiled lots of information about the campaign and the implementation of choice voting at UC-Davis. Please explore the below link for more information.
University of California, Davis website on Choice Voting
http://www.ucdgreens.org/cva/cvamain.shtml
Successes: More Choice, Greater Participation
The ballot statistics show a very high level of voter satisfaction in UC Davis's first two choice voting elections.
In the fall 2003-2004 election, 61% of voters elected their top choice, 82% of voters elected one of their top two choices, and 88% one of their top three. This was with nearly 2500 voters choosing among a field of 16 candidates.
In the winter 2003-2004 election, 55% of voters elected their top choice, 78% one of their top two choices, and 90% one of their top three. This was with over 4000 voters and a field of 14 candidates.
Compare these two election results to UC-Davis's former plurality system. In the winter 2000-2001 election, 48% of voters did not elect anyone from their top slate of candidates.
A Political Example for the City
The success of UC-Davis student elections using choice voting and the energy and passion of its students led to the adoption of choice voting in the city of Davis. On March 7, 2005, the City of Davis Governance Taskforce voted 8-1 to recommend choice voting for City Council elections. The taskforce presented a report to Davis City Council on April 5, 2005. After the Council accepted the findings, the citizens of Davis had their say on Choice Voting during an election of 2005.
However, despite voting overwhelming in favor of adopting Choice Voting, the governor of California, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, vetoed the bill. Governor Schwarzenegger stated that adopting new electoral methods would be against the Constitution since Davis is not a Chartered city. Currently, the residents of Davis are seeking Charter status.
An Exemplary Case for Campus to Community Choice Voting
On February 20, 2003, UC-Davis students adopted choice voting for student senate elections. The proponents of the change have compiled lots of information about the campaign and the implementation of choice voting at UC-Davis. Please explore the below link for more information.
University of California, Davis website on Choice Voting
http://www.ucdgreens.org/cva/cvamain.shtml
Successes: More Choice, Greater Participation
The ballot statistics show a very high level of voter satisfaction in UC Davis's first two choice voting elections.
In the fall 2003-2004 election, 61% of voters elected their top choice, 82% of voters elected one of their top two choices, and 88% one of their top three. This was with nearly 2500 voters choosing among a field of 16 candidates.
In the winter 2003-2004 election, 55% of voters elected their top choice, 78% one of their top two choices, and 90% one of their top three. This was with over 4000 voters and a field of 14 candidates.
Compare these two election results to UC-Davis's former plurality system. In the winter 2000-2001 election, 48% of voters did not elect anyone from their top slate of candidates.
A Political Example for the City
The success of UC-Davis student elections using choice voting and the energy and passion of its students led to the adoption of choice voting in the city of Davis. On March 7, 2005, the City of Davis Governance Taskforce voted 8-1 to recommend choice voting for City Council elections. The taskforce presented a report to Davis City Council on April 5, 2005. After the Council accepted the findings, the citizens of Davis had their say on Choice Voting during an election of 2005.
However, despite voting overwhelming in favor of adopting Choice Voting, the governor of California, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, vetoed the bill. Governor Schwarzenegger stated that adopting new electoral methods would be against the Constitution since Davis is not a Chartered city. Currently, the residents of Davis are seeking Charter status.