This November, the Portland City Council elections will look different than those in previous years. Instead of voting for one candidate in the elections for the mayor, auditor and councilors, voters will rank their choices. In an interview, City of Portland Transitions Team Voter Education expert Francisca Garfia uses the metaphor of getting ice cream to understand the concept of ranked choice voting.
“You go in with your favorite flavor in mind, and if that flavor isn’t available, it’s not like you leave. You have a backup: a second or third choice,” she said.
Lincoln math teacher Chuck Slusher believes that ranked choice voting will be beneficial to Portland voters.
“It allows you to give input on your preferences on all candidates, not just one. [Voters] will have more of a voice [and] can say how much they like each candidate, [as opposed to simply picking one.] Calling it more democratic is a really good way of putting it,” Slusher says.
There are two different processes to elect Portland’s City Council. According to The City of Portland, to elect the mayor and auditor, Portland is using a “single winner process.”
If a candidate receives more than half the votes in a round, they are the victor. Garfia explained what will happen if there is no clear winner.
“[Election officials will] look at the option with the least amount of first choice votes, [eliminate it, and] that vote gets moved over [to those voters’ second choice],” she said.
Garfia said this process continues until there is a clear winner.
For a councilor to win, a candidate must obtain more than 25 percent of votes. Excess votes are transferred to those voters’ second choice, and the next round ensues. There will be three council members in each of the four geographic districts.
Garfia explained that ranked choice voting will ensure that the elected officials are supported by the majority of their constituents.
“75 percent of people will have someone they ranked [highly] as their representative,” Garfia said.
To help voters learn more, The City of Portland is hosting several town halls, one of which is on Sept. 19 at Parkrose High School.
Garfia said, “[participants will] go over information and then do a mock election, on an app or on paper.”
Garfia encouraged high school students eligible to vote to register soon, as the deadline is Oct. 15, 2024.
