158,624 / 53.9% Yes votes ...... 135,525 / 46.1% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) allows the majority will of the voters to be determined in a single election. Instead of a voter indicating a single choice, each voter indicates his or her first choice, second choice, and so on, for up to as many choices as there are candidates. If a candidate receives a majority of first choice ballots, the candidate is elected. However, if no candidate receives a majority of first choice ballots, the candidate with the fewest first choice ballots is eliminated from contention, and the second choices of those voters whose first choice was eliminated are then counted as first choices. If a candidate now has a majority of the ballots, that candidate is elected. If not this process is repeated until one candidate receives a majority of the ballots. IRV eliminates the need for the second, separate, runoff election.

The current Poll Star voting system used in the County cannot accommodate IRV since it is unable to distinguish between voter first and second choices. However, in the future, this system may be replaced by a voting system that can accommodate IRV. This charter measure would enable, but not require, the Board of Supervisors to consider the use of IRV for County elections consolidated with the November general election once suitable technology is available in the County. Procedural issues regarding the implementation of IRV will need to be considered by the Board of Supervisors at the time IRV becomes a feasible option.

ANN MILLER RAVEL	By: SUSAN G. LEVENBERG
County Counsel	Chief Deputy County Counsel

Support

• Yes on F Official Web Site

• No known web sites

IRV is a proven system. It has been used for decades, in the Republic of Ireland to elect their President, and in Australia to elect their House of Representatives. Many U.S. organizations use it as well.

IRV shortens the election cycle. Candidates only have to campaign once, and voters only have to pay attention once. The current system puts five months between the primary and the runoff. With IRV the result is known after one election.

IRV reduces the cost of campaigns. Candidates only have to raise funds once, and the county only has to pay for one election. Most elections for open seats have resulted in runoffs - take the current Sheriff's race as an example. With IRV the public gets a majority winner with only one trip to the polls.

IRV reduces negative campaigning. Since each candidate has to appeal to the supporters of other candidates for their second choice votes, there is less incentive to sling mud.

The current system discourages many good people from running for office, because of the high probability of having to raise funds twice and campaign twice. IRV spares candidates (and their families, and the voters!) the pain and agony of two elections for a single office.

We strongly urge a Yes vote on Measure F. We are the home of cutting edge technology. Let's be the home of cutting edge democracy.

BLANCA ALVARADO,	CHUCK REED,
Chairperson, Board of Supervisors	Chairperson, Charter Review Committee

STEVE CHESSIN,
Advisory Board Member,
Center for Voting and Democracy

LET'S NOT BUY A PIG IN A POKE. Let's not leave it to anyone but YOU the taxpayer to decide on such a potentially expensive and revolutionary method of determining who gets control of government, and the power to tax and spend.

It is UNCLEAR; it will mean whatever the Supervisors want it to mean. IT WILL BE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

THIS IS ONE OF A SERIES OF MEASURES TO TAKE YOUR VOTING RIGHTS FROM YOU AND GIVE IT TO A BOARD, THE SAME BOARD THAT WANTS TO INCREASE THEIR TERM OF OFFICE! PROTECT YOUR VOTING RIGHTS.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE F.
http://www.webpage.com/taxpayer

KATHLEEN O'CONNELL-SUNDARAM	MARVIN B. RUDIN
President, Santa Clara County Taxpayers Assoc.	Business Owner

A Triumph of Jargon and Nonsense over Substance and Common Sense!

This confusingly written measure insults the intelligence of all voters in Santa Clara County. The vague language seems to say that a candidate earning less than 50% of the total votes cast could be awarded the office. Does this measure mean that the Board of Supervisors picks the winner of an election regardless of the vote?

In the American form of government, runoff elections force candidates to convince a majority of voters that they are fit to hold office.

Tell the Supervisors that taxpayers consider it money well spent to hold an election to determine clearly the best-qualified candidate for office.

Protect your voting rights! Vote No on Measure F.

KATHLEEN O'CONNELL-SUNDARAM, President,
Santa Clara County Taxpayers Association

MARVIN B. RUDIN, Chairman, Santa Clara County Libertarian Party

Measure F does NOT repeal the majority requirement for electing county officers. A candidate still must earn more than 50% of the total votes cast in order to be elected; it just allows the majority winner to be determined in one election by using the more modern technique of Instant Runoff Voting.

Measure F does NOT let the Board of Supervisors "pick the winner" under any circumstances. The right of the voters to elect the winner is not affected by MeasureF.

Elections are important, but holding a runoff election that modern technology can render unnecessary is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Please don't make the same mistake the opponents did. Read the impartial analysis of Measure F first. If you still have questions, call the Measure F hotline at 408-432-9148 and we'll get you an answer. We want you to be as informed as possible before making your decision.

By the way, the Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County wants you to know that they did not authorize their Chair to sign the argument against. In fact, many Libertarians support IRV, as do many Greens, many Democrats, many Republicans, and many Independents. IRV does not favor one party over another, it just eliminates the need for a second separate election while still preserving majority rule.

A broad range of people support Measure F, and we hope you will too.

Vote YES on Measure F.

BLANCA ALVARADO	CHUCK REED
Chairperson, Board of Supervisors	Chairperson, Charter Review Committee

STEVE CHESSIN	MARK HINKLE
Advisory Board Member	Chairperson, Libertarian Party of California

BILL TUCKER
Member, Green Party County Council

Amendments in Article II:

Section 208. Nothing in this Charter shall preclude the Board of Supervisors from authorizing an instant run-off voting system for the November general election, which eliminates the need for run-off elections, when such technology is available to the County.