Here you will find important updates in the world of instant runoff voting and events to attend that help spread the word of IRV/RCV in SC.

We lobbied!!!

Thank you to everyone who came out and everyone who contributed throughout the year to a successful lobbying day. We delivered 656 postcards to our legislators and they know how powerful this movement is for more choice and more voice. 

Our conversations were overwhelmingly positive and they filled me with hope. Our voices are strong and I am thrilled that we had several first time visitors to the Statehouse lobby. Connecting with our representatives is the hallmark of our democracy. Thank you for your participation. If you would like to see more pictures of BBSC lobbying click here.

But this isn't the end! We still need more people to tell their representatives that they want more choice and more voice. Join us at any of our upcoming events to help further the movement.

Great events to get plugged in!

Columbia Resource Fair: March 12, 11am. Join us to interact with members of the community. We'll be registering voters and talking to them about the great way that instant runoff voting could give them more choice and more voice on their ballots. 

No Kings Day: March 28. This is a great opportunity to spread the word to politically active people. Join fellow supporters in showing future supporters how they can have greater voice in how our government functions.

Plus! Better Ballot SC is hosting candidate on the South grounds of the Statehouse. Volunteer to help coordinate and to make this informative and energizing civic experience a reality.

Intro to IRV/RCV: March 18, 7pm. Whether you're new to the instant runoff voting movement or you've been around since the beginning, join us to pick up new knowledge. Plus, you can learn the basics of outreach including best practices for the elevator pitch, social media interactions, and letter to the editors.

Statewide Strategy Call: March 24, 6:30pm. Our monthly meeting are the 4th Tuesday of the month! Join us to recap the month and discuss the future, locally. Join us in Columbia, Charleston, or virtually. Everyone will meet on the call and have a quick recap of what the state of the movement in South Carolina is and then we'll break into local groups.

Letter to the Editor Training: every 1st Monday of the month, 8pm. Join other IRV enthusiasts in crafting letters for your local newsletters. Best practices and strategies will be discussed. All questions answered. By dedicating focused time to writing LTEs on a regular basis, you can help boost the IRV signal in your community and across the country.

IRV Pitch Training: Thursdays at 8pm. Learn how to pitch Instant Runoff Voting when canvassing on the street or at an event from a Rank the Vote National Organizer! We'll talk about best practices, and have opportunities for you to practice in a friendly environment. All questions welcome.

Social Media!

Do you follow us on your favorite platform? Please do! And remember to like, comment, and share. Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, Blue Sky, TikTok, and YouTube.

Are you interested in contributing to our social media presence? We'd love to hear from you! Funny or poignant memes? Let's see 'em! Something graphics-focused on a relevant news item? Send 'em our way! Let's get creative! This easy to use form has everything you need.

The Importance of an Executive Director

Better Ballot SC is an all volunteer organization that has worked to educate and advocate, but to be more effective, to effect real change in our communities, we need to take our next big step, and we need your help to do it.

This leader will drive our outreach, expand our coalition, and push IRV over the finish line in the Statehouse. The truth is, without this dedicated leadership, our progress could stall and South Carolina can’t afford to wait.

Your donation today to will help make this imperative step a reality. Please consider a recurring donation so that we can better budget for the future.

(https://fairvote.org/press/fact-sheet-ranked-choice-voting-2026-primaries/)

Plus: Volunteers gather signatures for these ballot proposals in Michigan: CBS News

Editorial: Candidates deserve spots on SC ballots; parties don't: Post & Courier

Several Illinois municipalities are trying to implement ranked choice voting: NPR Illinois

Indiana became the 19th state to ban ranked choice voting: Ballotpedia

Landmark Settlement Calls for NY Community to Implement Ranked-Choice Voting: Law.com

How a pair of ‘curious’ (and ‘skeptical’) data scientists decoded the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Rate-A-Queen voting method: Goldberry

R Street Testimony in Support of VA SB176, Expanding Ranked Choice Voting: R Street

Fact Sheet: Ranked Choice Voting & and the 2026 Primaries: FairVote

Other electoral reform news

Five Questions on Fusion Voting, Answered: Democracy

Watch: What do data centers have to do with democracy: FairVote

South Carolina Redistricting Debate Shows Risk for Republicans: Bloomberg

Only a fraction of House seat are competitive. Redistricting is driving that lower: NPR

81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics - Can a Constitutional Amendment fix it?: Independent Voter News

83% Want Voter ID - So Why Is Congress Fighting It? SAVE Act Explained: Independent Voter News

H.3589 Municipal Option Bill

This bill will give municipalities the option of using instant runoff voting in elections. Last session we got a hearing, this year we want to go even further, but we need your help.

We are looking for:

Cosponsors

We are actively looking for cosponsors for this municipal option bill. The best way to do this is to sit down with legislatures and have a conversation with them about the benefits of IRV. We know that talking to our legislators can be intimidating. If you would like to meet with your elected officials or have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. We can provide support and guidance.

Postcards

We'll be hand delivering postcards from constituents. Do you want your legislator to know you support IRV or have a group of friends who would like to submit them? Great! Let us know and we'll send them to you.

Municipal Resolutions

Municipalities are directly impacted by our bill, which would give towns and cities the option of using instant runoff voting. We want to show the legislature that this is something that they want. Municipalities can do this by passing resolutions in support of IRV. To learn how, please fill out this interest form.

Speaking Opportunities

When people hear about instant runoff voting, they like it. If you are a part of a group that hosts speakers, please consider a Better Ballot SC speaker. We'd love to spread the word among your network.

Are you looking for a flyer to hang up at your local community board? Or maybe something to handout to people? Check out our Printables!

We have an easy way to get involved! Sign our petition! Show your support of instant runoff voting by signing and sharing. Remember to share it to your social media!

If you like what you've read here and would like us to continue our efforts, please donate. We're building momentum here in South Carolina. Help us continue to educate our fellow South Carolinians. Consider making a monthly contribution. It helps us to better strategize our long term goals.

Thank you for reading,

Nicole Sanchez,

President, Better Ballot SC