Oakland Set to Use IRV in 2010

The Oakland (CA) City Council voted on January 5 to adopt instant runoff voting for its mayoral and council elections in 2010, enacting a ballot measure won with 69% and foregoing its traditional low-turnout June elections. Alameda County's elections department deserves great credit for prepring to use IRV, as does the New America Foundation, Caliornians for Electoral Reform and an impressive array of community groups. Berkeley is expected to join Bay Area neighbors Oakland and San Francisco in IRV elections this November.