Sacramento, CA – Residents in Natomas are actively advocating for the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in local elections, directly engaging elected officials on the matter. A recent social media post by user "Walk Safe" highlighted strong community support for the electoral reform, directly questioning local representatives on their stance. The tweet, dated July 22, 2025, stated, "> Ok my buddies @CM_LisaKaplan @SenatorAshby your constituents in Natomas all in on Ranked Choice Voting. What say you?"
The call to action was directed at Natomas Unified School District Board Member Lisa Kaplan and California State Senator Angelique Ashby, urging them to address the growing sentiment for RCV among their constituents. While neither official has publicly detailed their position on RCV, the tweet underscores increasing community interest in electoral reform within the Sacramento area.
Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing a single candidate. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters' next choices until a majority winner emerges. Proponents argue this system promotes broader consensus, reduces negative campaigning, and ensures winners have majority support.
A local coalition, "Better Ballot Sacramento," is actively campaigning to bring RCV to Sacramento's municipal elections, aiming for a ballot initiative. This push is part of a broader trend in California, where cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and Albany already utilize RCV for local contests. Advocates suggest RCV can eliminate the need for costly runoff elections and increase voter participation by making general elections more decisive.
Historically, Sacramento has experimented with alternative voting methods, having used Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV), a form of RCV, in the past. The current advocacy reflects a renewed interest in electoral systems that aim to enhance representation and voter satisfaction. The engagement of Natomas constituents with their representatives indicates a desire for local leaders to consider this electoral reform.