H.4022

Introduced by Neal Collins (R-5) and Dr. Jermaine Johnson (D-70)

H.4022 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 changes 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.4022 today! Click here to find out who that is and for contact information. Scroll down to see a separate message to send to your state senator.

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

We encourage you to include any personal stories that emphasize the need for instant runoff voting in municipalities.

Here is an example of a message that you can send:

"

As one of your constituents who supports instant runoff voting, I urge you to cosponsor H.4022. I am a part of a coalition of organizations representing thousands of South Carolinians. Runoff elections are costly and under attended. There is a bipartisan bill that has been introduced to the House (H.4022) 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 uniformed and overseas South Carolinians can vote (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act).

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. This would also allow parties to build their bench without fear of splitting the vote. This would also 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 these reasons and more, I'm asking you to cosponsor H.4022

"

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

"

My name is _____ and I would like you to cosponsor H.4022. 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.4022.

"

Senators

We are looking for a companion bill to be introduced into the state senate. Please contact your senators with a message similar to the one below. Again, feel free to include any personal stories about the benefits of instant runoff voting.

"

As one of your constituents who supports instant runoff voting, I urge you to introduce a companion bill to H.4022 in the Senate. I am a part of a coalition of organizations representing thousands of South Carolinians. Runoff elections are costly and under attended. There is a bipartisan bill that has been introduced to the House (H.4022) 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 uniformed and overseas South Carolinians can vote (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act).

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. This would also allow parties to build their bench without fear of splitting the vote. This would also 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 these reasons and more, I'm asking you to introduce a companion bill to H.4022

"

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

"

My name is _____ and I would like you to introduce a companion bill to H.4022. 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.4022.

"

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

Thank you for taking action