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.

A Special Election

As I'm sure many of you have heard, Senator Lindsey Graham passed away. People will be debating and discussing his life and legacy for years to come. But today we'll be discussing the electoral consequences.

First, Governor McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill the seat for the rest of his term, which ends in January. Sen. Lindsey Graham was on the ballot this November, so there will be a special election to replace him. The winner will then compete against challengers from the Democratic, Libertarian, and Constitution parties.

Filing starts today at noon and goes until Tuesday July 28 at noon. The primary will be held on August 11 with a possible (probably with how many people have thrown their names into the ring already) runoff on August 25. If you either did not vote in the June primaries or if you voted in the Republican primary, you can vote in this election.

That means we're going to expect voters to come out to five elections this year. Five! Primary, primary runoff, special election, special election runoff, and the general. That doesn't even take into the consideration the additional election (and possible runoff) that will have to take place if one of our sitting representatives wins the senate general election! It's going to cost our state millions of dollars to administer these elections.

We'd love to save the time and money of the traditional runoffs and use instant runoff voting in these situations. Since you rank your candidates, we already know how you would vote in a traditional runoff. Saves time, saves money, saves voter apathy, and it finds the candidate that most voters support. Our overseas voters already vote this way. Let's expand it so everyone in South Carolina has that opportunity.

If you'd like to support our efforts to expand instant runoff/ranked choice voting, please sign up to volunteer or donate today.

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!

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.

Pack the Park. Join BBSC for Fireflies Baseball: Aug 25, 7:05pm. Pack the Park for Nonprofits is a philanthropic initiative hosted by the Columbia Fireflies at Segra Park with the help of Together SC and Central Carolina Community Foundation, offering a unique fundraising opportunity for nonprofits. $5 from every ticket will benefit Better Ballot SC, but you can also hang out with us if you'd like! We'll be in section 112 starting in row D. 

Intro to IRV/RCV: August 19, 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.

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: every 2nd Thursday of the month, 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.

Executive Director

Exciting news! Better Ballot SC has hired it's first employee! You've known me as the President of Better Ballot SC for five years now, but today I write to you as the new part-time Executive Director.

I am honored to have this role and to be able to continue to serve you. I'm excited for the investment in this movement and how far we'll be able to go under our new structure. We'll be hiring some regional organizers soon, so be on the look out for that as well.

If you'd like to help us keep this momentum going, please donate today. Every dollar helps secure the stability and longevity of the organization so that we can improve the way that South Carolinians vote. We're here to fix the system and we're thrilled you're along for the ride.

(https://fairvote.org/report/neighborhood-representation-with-prcv)

Danielle Allen's "Radical Duke" Reveals an Unsung Catalyst of History: Harvard Kennedy School

Petition Drive to Let Independents Vote Delivers 45,000 Signatures to NYC Clerk: Independent Voter News

How pollsters are changing their approach in Maine: The Maine Monitor

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,

Executive Director, Better Ballot SC