RCV in Minnetonka
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) got rid of expensive city primaries where only 5% of voters participated, and combined two rounds of voting into a single “instant runoff” election in November, when turnout is higher and more representative of the community.
Minnetonka’s first ranked-choice election was a huge success
✔️ Eliminated high-cost ($50K per election), low turnout (5% average turnout) primaries;
✔️ Voters had more choices, the most candidates ever for a Minnetonka City Council election;
✔️ Voter turnout increased dramatically, up more than 50% than the average since 1985;
✔️ All winning candidates earned a majority in a single cost-effective election;
✔️ Voters liked it and found it easy to use, with a 99.9% valid ballot rate.