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.

Runoff Results!

The partisan runoffs are over for this cycle. All the political parties have their nominees for the general election. But how many people participated and ultimately chose those contenders?

We had record turnout for the primary, 25% of registered voters. That may not seem like a lot (and it's not), but it's much better than the 14% from 2024 and the 17% from 2022 (the last time our constitutional officers were on the ballot). This was likely due to the response to the attempted redistricting. So, without the fear of redistricting, how many people returned for the runoff? 11% of registered voters. The number is influenced by a lot of things, such as Democrats not having a statewide runoff and Republicans having several. Let's take a deeper look at 2 races in particular: Republican governor and Democratic congressional district 2.

Republican Governor:  Primary Turnout: 472,956, Runoff Turnout: 318,796. 67% of voters came back out. That's pretty good where the average drop is 50%, but I would argue that this traditional runoff system was still a waste of tax payer money. Using instant runoff/ranked choice voting would not have changed the outcome. Voters could easily see the difference between these top two contenders - and they could see it for months. Alan Wilson's strategy was to take advantage of his natural congeniality. He was asking voters to be their second choice since at least March (clip from SC Lede podcast). On the other side of the coin, Pamela Evette was on the offensive for months. One prominent example was an AI generated video that falsely accused Wilson of backing Nikki Haley instead of Donald Trump. These are not isolated examples. Because of these actions by the candidates, we feel strongly that using IRV/RCV would have led to the same result - but without the cost or drop in turnout associated with the traditional runoff.

Democratic Congressional District 2: Primary Turnout: 58,649, Runoff Turnout: 5,705. Only 10% of voters returned to the polls in this contest. Yes, it was the only race on the ballot. Yes, redistricting had failed so that was no longer a motivation, but that is shockingly low. Instant runoff/ranked choice voting would have captured those voters on their first time to the polls. More people would have participated in the final result and we would have saved money.

These races and many more like them show us why we need to upgrade the way that we vote. To continue our mission to expand instant runoff (aka ranked choice voting) in South Carolina, please donate today. Your donations help us continue our mission and improve the stability and longevity of the organization.

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.

Ever wanted to develop RCV memes? We'd love you ideas! Send 'em our way! Let's get creative! This easy to use form has everything you need.

Great events to get plugged in!

Intro to IRV/RCV: July 15, 7pm (held monthly on the 3rd Tuesday). 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.

BBSC Board Meeting: July 10, 4:30pm. This meeting is open to the public. If you would like to speak during the meeting, please reach out to Nicole.

Statewide Strategy Call: July 28, 6:30pm. Our monthly meetings 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 open up the floor.

Letter to the Editor Training: every 4th Tuesday 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.

(https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5926647-proportional-representation-democracy/)

Plus: How to Win the New War for Black Voting Rights: The Nation

A judge just ordered Huntington Beach to give voters more choice: Independent Voter News

Maine used RCV in their partisan primary to pick the candidates for the general election. Check out FairVote's analysis and watch a panel from the Maine Monitor for their take aways.

DC used RCV for the first time in their primaries! Watch DC voters talk about their experiences, check out the preliminary results, and exit polling.

Challenges in rural election administration 'exacerbated' in runoff elections: The Daily Yonder

Don't scrap top-two. Fix its strategic voting problem: Independent Voter News

Municipal Option Bill

The Legislative Session is essentially over (except for the budget). This bill is expected to be reintroduced next session. It would give municipalities more choice and more voice in their elections.

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.

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