H.3589

Sponsored by Dr. Jermaine Johnson (D-52), Neal Collins (R-5), Spencer Wetmore (D-115)

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.

Thank you so much for your support of H.3589. We had lots of informative conversations with our representatives about the benefits of instant runoff voting for both municipalities and voters. The session is coming to a close, but we still ask you to reach out to your representatives and let them know that you support this great reform.

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, Jermaine Johnson, or Spencer Wetmore.

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, Jermaine Johnson, or Spencer Wetmore.

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, Neal Collins, or Spencer Wetmore, we encourage you to contact them 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]

Are you interested in becoming a part of the voting reform effort in South Carolina? Let's expand instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting) in South Carolina and give voters More Choice and More Voice.

We've been working to educate voters about this common sense upgrade to the way that we currently vote. Join us to Better the South Carolina Ballot by RSVPing for our monthly statewide strategy call.

We're hybrid! Location: Over the Horizon Brewery, 2200 Heriot St, Charleston, SC 29403. Prepare for a fun, informative time. We will begin the meeting virtually with a statewide recap and then break into local groups. Please arrive 15 minutes early to situate yourself and to chat with fellow supporters. Can't make it in person? That's alright too. You can join your local group virtually!

If you are attending in person, we will be holding a canned food collection drive. Help us fill Blessing boxes in the Charleston Area.

Curious how it works? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Join the call and we can go more in depth, but here are the basics:

When voters go to the polls, instead of voting for one, they rank their candidates. This gives voters More Voice and More Choice. If a voter's top choice has no path to victory, their vote is transferred to their second choice. This ensures majority support while eliminating costly runoffs. It also has some other great benefits:

• Reduces polarization and mudslinging
• Eliminates the spoiler effect and vote splitting
• Increases representation

Visit our Why IRV? page to learn more. Or come to the meeting!

Are you interested in becoming a part of the voting reform effort in South Carolina? Let's expand instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting) in South Carolina and give voters More Choice and More Voice.

We've been working to educate voters about this common sense upgrade to the way that we currently vote. Join us to Better the South Carolina Ballot by RSVPing for our monthly statewide strategy meeting.

Not in Columbia or Charleston or unable to attend in person? No worries! The more the merrier. After our statewide update, we'll break into smaller groups based on region and we'd love your input, from whatever corner of SC you're in!

Curious how it works? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Join the call and we can go more in depth, but here are the basics:

When voters go to the polls, instead of voting for one, they rank their candidates. This gives voters More Voice and More Choice. If a voter's top choice has no path to victory, their vote is transferred to their second choice. This ensures majority support while eliminating costly runoffs. It also has some other great benefits:

• Reduces polarization and mudslinging
• Eliminates the spoiler effect and vote splitting
• Increases representation

Visit our Why IRV? page to learn more. Or come to the meeting!

Are you interested in becoming a part of the voting reform effort in South Carolina? Let's expand instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting) in South Carolina and give voters More Choice and More Voice.

We've been working to educate voters about this common sense upgrade to the way that we currently vote. Join us to Better the South Carolina Ballot by RSVPing for our monthly statewide strategy meeting.

We're hybrid! Columbia's meeting will be located at a Bierkeller Brewing Company (600 Canalside St, Columbia, SC 29201). Prepare for a fun, informative time. We will begin the meeting virtually with a statewide recap and then break into local groups. Please arrive 15 minutes early to situate yourself and to chat with fellow supporters. Can't make it in person? That's alright too. You can join your local group virtually!

If you are attending in person, we will be holding a food drive. Please bring canned or other dried goods to donate to Food Not Bombs. They prefer canned vegetables.

Curious how it works? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Join the call and we can go more in depth, but here are the basics:

When voters go to the polls, instead of voting for one, they rank their candidates. This gives voters More Voice and More Choice. If a voter's top choice has no path to victory, their vote is transferred to their second choice. This ensures majority support while eliminating costly runoffs. It also has some other great benefits:

• Reduces polarization and mudslinging
• Eliminates the spoiler effect and vote splitting
• Increases representation

Visit our Why IRV? page to learn more. Or come to the meeting!

The best way to learn is by doing and here is a great way to see just how easy it is to vote using instant runoff voting.

SPLIT

To learn more about this great electoral reform, visit our Why IRV page

Click the links below to see the many letters to the editor and opinion pieces that IRV supporters have had published in local newspapers

Editorial: The Post and Courier

May 30, 2026, "After wisely eliminating 2 partisan elections, SC Legislature needs to end more" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/sc-partisan-elections-cities-legislature/article_8ca5a5d2-b8d6-4e9b-a49b-edae6f768f50.html

"The Legislature requires the top two vote-getters in the first round of partisan elections to go through a runoff if no candidate receives a majority of the vote. This actually makes all the sense in the world — although it would make more sense if we used instant-runoff voting — whether the election is partisan or not."

Opinion: FitsNews

May 23, 2026, "Gerrymandering is Autocracy by Another Name" https://www.fitsnews.com/2026/05/23/fitsforum-gerrymandering-is-autocracy-by-another-name/

"By embracing proportional representation, we can ensure that our maps reflect our actual communities, not our politicians’ anxieties. It is time to start fixing the system itself. If we want a government that is truly of, by, and for the people, we must stop drawing lines that divide us and start building a system where every single vote actually matters."

Editorial: The Post and Courier

February 26, 2026, "Candidates deserve spots on SC ballots; parties don't" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/sc-republican-party-close-primaries-pure/article_1c557c35-49a6-463c-87cf-dbf0faaf52cf.html

Letter: Upstate Today

February 21, 2026, "A win for everyone" https://upstatetoday.com/opinion/a-win-for-everyone/article_f665da48-9031-4887-9ebe-b4770b6bd6a4.html and https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-raise-scholarship-instant-runoff-voting-american-dream/article_c11f902c-f440-48cc-be09-810b219bc3d9.html

Letter: The Post and Courier

January 30 2026, "Don't Close Primaries" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-ten-commandments-closed-primaries-estate-planning-sign/article_9c10e228-9ada-4cc3-9c57-e46cd1739bfc.html

Opinion: The Post and Courier

May 30, 2025, "Editorial: North Charleston elections should usher in further changes" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/north-charleston-city-council-elections/article_d29934f8-1ea7-4ab7-9697-68a4f77a4f4b.html

Letters: The Post and Courier

January 28, 2024, "Improve SC Politics" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/opinions-letters-improve-politics-state-bad-planning/article_21fe1128-d44f-11ef-b290-7343359ca498.html

Opinion: The Daniel Island News

August 7, 2024, "Instant Runoff Voting Can Change Elections for the Better" https://www.thedanielislandnews.com/opinions/instant-runoff-voting-can-change-elections-better

Commentary: The Post and Courier

July 18, 2024, "Ranked-choice voting, open primaries can help bring civility back to politics" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/ranked-choice-voting-open-primaries-divisive-political-rhetoric/article_c9ef90dc-43ae-11ef-8be0-ffe9cd6dbf97.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

June 29, 2024, "Tuesday's runoffs underscores a need for instant-runoff voting" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/instant-runoff-would-up-sc-voter-participation/article_b822f848-3400-11ef-99f3-abd63122a7f9.html

Letter: The State

June 14, 2024, "A move to instant runoff voting would reduce costs and end the state's "archaic" system" https://www.thestate.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article289272745.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

June 13, 2024, "Trusting the mail could cost you your vote in June 25 SC primary runoff" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/slow-mail-threatens-sc-runoff-ballots/article_30c085f2-21ca-11ef-a2b9-179972a5b416.html

Opinion: The State

June 6, 2024, "Four election reforms that would expand voter choice and chip away at incumbency" https://www.thestate.com/opinion/article288999169.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

January 15, 2024, "SC's military and overseas voters get this option. Why don't the rest of us?" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/sc-overseas-military-voters-use-instant-runoff/article_aaf79aaa-b0ea-11ee-9b40-1f8f8597b1bc.html

Letter to the Editor: The Post and Courier

January 14, 2024, "South Carolina should try ranked-choice voting" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/south-carolina-ranked-choice-voting/article_b008a448-a9b1-11ee-9340-43b25b31fdb0.html

Letter to the Editor: The Post and Courier

December 20, 2023, "Ranked-choice voting can transform politics" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/ranked-choice-voting-can-transform-politics-in-charleston/article_c39e4f56-8ed3-11ee-90b7-6f507f13ba0b.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

December 16, 2023, "Charleston should back efforts to allow ranked-choice voting" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-charleston-should-back-effort-to-allow-ranked-choice-voting/article_fe984376-9a88-11ee-be6e-afef89f316ef.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

December 1, 2023, "Local elections went fairly well. This change would improve them" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-local-elections-went-fairly-well-this-change-would-improve-them/article_0a9fc300-8afe-11ee-b676-7bac42a95dc8.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

November 25, 2023, "A change North Charleston needs to make" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-a-change-north-charleston-needs-to-make/article_66447efa-8971-11ee-af14-8bb93b3cdc9f.html

Editorial: The Post and Courier

November 13, 2023, "North Charleston averted an electoral disaster, or did it?" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-north-charleston-averted-an-electoral-disaster-or-did-it/article_30132ce0-7e73-11ee-9d15-fb9d2fcd5b7b.html

Our View: Charleston City Paper

November 10, 2023, "Elections show need for new voting process" https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/11/10/our-view-elections-show-need-for-new-voting-process/

Opinion: The Post and Courier

August 19, 2023, "Haley-Scott-Youngkin argument should prompt change in SC primary rules" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-haley-scott-youngkin-argument-should-prompt-change-in-sc-primary-rules/article_0e61aac0-3bae-11ee-8070-3f7efae1ed7e.html

My Turn: The Statehouse Report

August 18, 2023, "Instant runoff voting could fix broken election system" https://www.statehousereport.com/2023/08/18/my-turn-instant-runoff-voting-could-fix-broken-election-system/

Commentary: The Post and Courier

August 15, 2023, "Ranked-choice primary would increase odds of Haley or Scott win" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/commentary-ranked-choice-primary-would-increase-odds-of-haley-or-scott-win/article_4311ecb0-3971-11ee-9406-b3e8a9caf425.html

Opinion: The Post and Courier

August 4, 2023, "When fewer candidates actually give voters a clearer choice" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-when-fewer-candidates-actually-gives-voters-a-clearer-choice/article_5d98b52a-2fb5-11ee-a54d-0f1c81068dad.html

Letter to the Editor: The Post and Courier

June 8, 2023, "Ranked choice voting would force candidates to campaign in all states" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-ranked-choice-voting-would-force-candidates-to-campaign-in-all-states/article_189c6ff6-f41a-11ed-be0e-57383319132d.html

Opinion: The Post and Courier

April 17, 2023, "SC House has time to fix small election glitch this year, maybe a larger one too" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-sc-house-has-time-to-fix-small-election-glitch-this-year-maybe-larger-one/article_1129bb6a-dd2d-11ed-ba81-7f3cf520b800.html

Opinion: The Post and Courier

April 15, 2023, "North Charleston must fix its flawed city elections while it still can" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-north-charleston-must-fix-its-flawed-city-elections-while-it-still-can/article_c1f03680-d9fa-11ed-9a07-5f27c39d8264.html

Letter to the Editor: The Post and Courier

Mar 21, 2023, "Support instant runoff for municipal elections in SC" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-support-instant-runoff-for-municipal-elections-in-sc/article_598a7ea0-b940-11ed-97bf-dbf95e736f20.html

Letter to the Editor: The Sun News

Mar 14, 2023, "Simplify Elections" https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article272982180.html

Letter to the Editor: The Times and Democrat

Mar 9, 2023, "Ranked voting vs runoff" https://thetandd.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_0655db9d-6e02-5c18-bc91-f1990d41a902.html

Opinion: Post and Courier

Feb 25, 2023, "A 13% salary increase? North Charleston's political plan is ill conceived" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-a-13-salary-increase-north-charlestons-political-pay-plan-is-ill-considered/article_517a3410-b2ee-11ed-94bc-f3bdf56f9041.html

Our View: Charleston City Paper

Feb 1, 2023, "Defend Democracy Now, More Than Ever" https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/02/01/our-view-defend-democracy-now-more-than-ever/

Letter to the Editor: The State

Jan 22, 2023, "Letter: Support RCV" https://www.thestate.com/article271404912.html

Commentary: Post and Courier

Jan 22, 2023, "Ranked choice voting means more voices and more choices for South Carolinians" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/commentary-ranked-choice-voting-means-more-voices-choices-for-south-carolinians/article_eb142834-9821-11ed-bcc9-bf2880c525a0.html

Opinion: Post and Courier

Nov 19, 2022, "Scoppe: Ranked-choice voting just keeps growing. It’s time for SC to expand its use here" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/scoppe-ranked-choice-voting-just-keeps-growing-its-time-for-sc-to-expand-its-use/article_674bb5e6-6548-11ed-8f44-17fa572bad58.html

Letter to the Editor: Post and Courier

Nov 18, 2022, "Ranked Choice" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-250-committees-research-revolutionary-war-in-sc/article_3008f0c6-4ef0-11ed-b062-af32c4ad8630.html This article won the Golden Pen Award: https://www.postandcourier.com/letter-on-ranked-choice-voting-wins-golden-pen-for-november/article_7d3e13bc-7b1e-11ed-882e-f77cad6b91e5.html

Opinion: Post and Courier

August 14, 2022, "An important reminder of how elections work and how SCs could work better" https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-an-important-reminder-of-how-elections-work-and-how-scs-could-work-better/article_70e99370-1750-11ed-8372-1f26839ee521.html

Opinion: The State

February 2022, "Want to change SC politics for the better? Vote incumbents out, Columbia resident urges" https://www.thestate.com/opinion/article258132688.html

Letter to the Editor: Greenville News

October 30, 2020, "Why South Carolina Lawmakers Should Get Behind Ranked Choice Voting" https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/opinion/2021/10/30/letter-congress-should-fund-switch-ranked-choice-voting/8565312002/

Are we missing any? Let us know at [email protected]