Effectiveness and Ethical Implications of Ranked Choice Voting in Minneapolis 2013 Elections

Erica L. MauterSt. Catherine UniversitySt. Paul, MNMay 2014

What is RCV?

http://youtu.be/oHRPMJmzBBw

Minneapolis in 2013• 35 Mayoral Candidates• 13 City Council Seats• Park & Recreation Board• Board of Estimate and Taxation• Soil and Water Conservation

District Supervisor• City Charter Ballot Questions

Did the use of the ranked choice voting electoral system in the Minneapolis 2013 municipal

elections achieve its purported benefits by functioning as an

inclusive electoral system and by inspiring more inclusive

campaigns?

A MORE INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL PROCESS

INCLUSION AND DEMOCRACY

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

MORE INCLUSIVE CAMPAIGNING

COMPLEXITY CREATES BARRIERS TO

PARTICIPATION

CONCEPTUAL CONTEXT

INCLUSION AND DEMOCRACY(Young, 2000)

PUBLIC DELIBERATION

PUBLICDECISION-MAKING

InclusionPolitical EqualityReasonablenessPublicity

Social Justice = Ideal

“collective action by community members drawing on the strength of numbers, participatory processes, and indigenous leadership to decrease power disparities and achieve shared goals for social change”

(Staples, 2004)

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

A MORE INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Primary Election

General Election

General Election

Runoff Election

TWO-ROUND SYSTEMS

SPOILERS

MORE INCLUSIVE CAMPAIGNING

COMPLEXITY CREATES BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION

Did the use of the ranked choice voting electoral system in the Minneapolis 2013 municipal

elections achieve its purported benefits by functioning as an

inclusive electoral system and by inspiring more inclusive

campaigns?

METHODOLOGYLITERATURE INTERVIEWS

PUBLIC ELECTION

DATAETHICAL

ANALYSIS

FINDINGS

Campaigns UsedRCV-Specific Tactics

Outreach to HistoricallyUnder-Represented Populations

RCV Education

Positivity and Lack of Negative Campaigning

Language of Choice

Campaigns Used RCV-Specific Tactics

Broader Voter Communication Universe

Distinguishing Candidate From Competitors

Assessing Success

Coalition Campaigning Not a Factor

OUTREACH TO HISTORICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED

POPULATIONS

RCV EDUCATION

Positivity and Lack of Negative

Campaigning“you have the

disease of small vision”

¯\_(ツ )_/¯

INCLUSION AND DEMOCRACY(Young, 2000)

PUBLIC DELIBERATION

PUBLICDECISION-MAKING

InclusionPolitical EqualityReasonablenessPublicity

Social Justice = Ideal

Inclusive + EqualInclusive

Campaigning Public Deliberation

Inclusive Electoral System Public

Decision-making

Inclusive + Equal

PublicDeliberation

Inclusive + Equal

Task-Oriented

Analytic ProcessCreate Information BasePrioritize Key ValuesIdentify SolutionsWeigh SolutionsMake Best Decision

Gastil & Black (2008)

Relational

Social ProcessSpeaking OpportunitiesMutual ComprehensionConsiderationRespect

Gastil & Black (2008)

Inclusivity and Community OrganizingCollective ActionParticipatory ProcessesIndigenous LeadershipDecreasing Power DisparitiesAchieving Shared Goals

Conversations

Hodges35% of 1st Choices

63% of 1st+2nd+3rd Choices

Inclusive + Equal

PublicDecision-Making

2001 2005 2009 20130

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

Minneapolis Municipal Election Year Voter Turnout

RCVGeneralPrimary

Election Year

Vote

r Tur

nout

2006 2008 2010 20120%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Minneapolis Federal Election Year Voter Turnout

GeneralPrimary

Election Year

Vote

r Tur

nout

TURNO

UT

VOTERSRANKEDTHEIRCHOICES

IS RCV A MORE INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL PROCESS?

WERE CAMPAIGNS MORE INCLUSIVE?

SOCIAL JUSTICE & INCLUSION

PUBLIC DELIBERATIONPUBLIC DECISION-MAKINGDID COMPLEXITY

CREATE A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION?

QUESTIONS(And, hopefully, answers.)

MY WIFEMissy Weldy

MY COMMITTEEAmy Ihlan, J.D., Ph.D. (Advisor)Ariella Tilsen, MAOLMartha Hardesty, Ph.D.

ANDSharon Radd, Ed.D.Rebecca Hawthorne, Ph.D.

ALSOMy MAOL ClassmatesElection Nerds of Minneapolis

Photos: Flickr Creative CommonsMpls55408, Matthew Paulson, Joe D, Scott*, Baratunde Thurston, Sage Ross, Leia Scofield,

Mpls55408, dayna mason, Quinn Dombrowski, Erica Mauter, Tony Seneadza, feeb, reway2007, duncan c, povertyinitiative, Michael Hartford,

Gozamos, Joe D, Dave King, Carolyn Sewell, Victoria Belanger

Video: Minnesota Public Radio

MEDIA CREDITS