Legislative Action

H.3589

Introduced Dr. Jermaine Johnson (D-52)

H.3589 will give municipalities the option of using instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting). Not only does instant runoff voting save money by eliminating costly runoffs while still maintaining majority support, it also incentivizes campaigns and candidates for the better. To learn more, visit our Why IRV? page.

This bill needs cosponsors! Contact your representative today to tell them that you support instant runoff voting and that they should cosponsor H.3589 today!

Send your legislators a message:

Messages to South Carolina Legislators now need to be directed through the message center on each legislator's Statehouse page. For a detailed walk through of the steps below, please click here.

Step 1: Determine who your legislators are and click the send them a message button on their individual legislator pages. We request that you contact your State Representative and State Senator with slightly different asks referenced below.

Step 2: Use the sample language below to ask your representatives to co-sponsor H.3589. We encourage you to include any personal stories that involve instant runoff voting such as; having trouble voting in a runoff; using an instant runoff ballot through the SC's UOCAVA voter program; or using instant runoff voting in another state.

State Representative:

"

Thank you for taking the time to review my request today. I am one of your constituents and a part of a coalition of organizations representing thousands of South Carolinians.

Runoff elections are costly and under-attended. A bipartisan bill, H.3589, was reintroduced into the House that would give the option to municipalities to implement a better process to run their elections. Instant runoff voting would streamline the runoff system, and it’s already how our uniformed and overseas South Carolinians can vote (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act). I am requesting that you cosponsor this new bill by contacting either Representatives Neal Collins or Jermaine Johnson.

Not only would results be determined sooner, but it would improve our elections. It would protect against vote splitting by allowing voters to support all candidates who align with their views.

It would also allow parties to build their bench without fear of splitting the vote. It would minimize strategic voting and allow voters to express their will without compromising their values.

It would also curb negative campaigning, allowing legislators/candidates to focus on their policies rather than on defense. This would help grow your base by bringing more people together over the issues.

It would also give winners a more secure mandate to govern since majority support is determined from a larger pool of voters than a traditional runoff. When more voters are satisfied with the winner, there’s more confidence in elections.

For all of the above reasons and more, please cosponsor the Instant Runoff Voting Option for municipalities.

Thank you again for your time.

"

State Senator:

"

Thank you for taking the time to review my request today. I am one of your constituents and a part of a coalition of organizations representing thousands of South Carolinians.

Runoff elections are costly and under-attended. A bipartisan bill, H.3589, was reintroduced into the House that would give the option to municipalities to implement a better process to run their elections. Instant runoff voting would streamline the runoff system, and it’s already how our uniformed and overseas South Carolinians can vote (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act). I am requesting that you introduce a companion bill by contacting either Representatives Neal Collins or Jermaine Johnson.

Not only would results be determined sooner, but it would improve our elections. It would protect against vote splitting by allowing voters to support all candidates who align with their views.

It would also allow parties to build their bench without fear of splitting the vote. It would minimize strategic voting and allow voters to express their will without compromising their values.

It would also curb negative campaigning, allowing legislators/candidates to focus on their policies rather than on defense. This would help grow your base by bringing more people together over the issues.

It would also give winners a more secure mandate to govern since majority support is determined from a larger pool of voters than a traditional runoff. When more voters are satisfied with the winner, there’s more confidence in elections.

For all of the above reasons and more, please introduce a companion bill for Instant Runoff Voting Option for municipalities.

Thank you again for your time.

"

If your representative is Dr. Jermaine Johnson, we encourage you to contact him anyway and thank them.

Interested in calling instead?

Click here to find out who your legislators are and for contact information.

If you would like to call, here is a sample message:

SC House of Representatives

"

My name is _____. I am a constituent and I would like you to cosponsor H.3589. I am a part of a coalition of organizations representing thousands of South Carolinians. Giving municipalities the option to use instant runoff voting in their elections will benefit both the voters and the government. It will save time and money. It minimizes strategic voting and allows voters to express their will without compromising their values. It also protects against vote splitting by allowing voters to support all candidates who align with their views, and because of that, allows parties to build their bench. Additionally, it discourages negative campaigning, allowing candidates to focus on policy and not defense. Finally, it’s how our overseas absentee voters can vote. All South Carolinians should have this option for their municipalities.

For all of these reasons and more, please cosponsor H.3589.

"

SC Senate

"

My name is _____. I am a constituent and and I would like you to introduce a companion bill to H.3589. I am a part of a coalition of organizations representing thousands of South Carolinians. Giving municipalities the option to use instant runoff voting in their elections will benefit both the voters and the government. It will save time and money. It minimizes strategic voting and allows voters to express their will without compromising their values. It also protects against vote splitting by allowing voters to support all candidates who align with their views, and because of that, allows parties to build their bench. Additionally, it discourages negative campaigning, allowing candidates to focus on policy and not defense. Finally, it’s how our overseas absentee voters can vote. All South Carolinians should have this option for their municipalities.

For all of these reasons and more, please cosponsor H.3589.

"

If you would like to set up a meeting with your representative, we would be happy to help you. Email us at [email protected]