The document analyzes the effectiveness and ethical implications of ranked choice voting used in the 2013 Minneapolis elections. It discusses how ranked choice voting aims to create a more inclusive electoral process and inspire more inclusive campaigning. The author conducted research through literature reviews, interviews, and analyzing public election data to determine if ranked choice voting achieved its goals of inclusiveness in these elections.
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Was Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in Minneapolis More Inclusive?
1. Effectiveness and
Ethical Implications of
Ranked Choice Voting
in Minneapolis 2013
Elections
Erica L. Mauter
St. Catherine University
St. Paul, MN
May 2014
3. 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
4. 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?
5. A MORE INCLUSIVE
ELECTORAL PROCESS
INCLUSION AND
DEMOCRACY
COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING
MORE INCLUSIVE
CAMPAIGNING
COMPLEXITY CREATES
BARRIERS TO
PARTICIPATION
CONCEPTUAL CONTEXT
6. INCLUSION AND DEMOCRACY
(Young, 2000)
PUBLIC
DELIBERATION
PUBLIC
DECISION-MAKING
Inclusion
Political Equality
Reasonableness
Publicity
Social Justice = Ideal
7. “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
8. A MORE INCLUSIVE
ELECTORAL PROCESS
Primary
Election
General
Election
General
Election
Runoff
Election
TWO-ROUND
SYSTEMS
SPOILERS
11. 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?
14. Language of Choice
Campaigns Used RCV-Specific Tactics
Broader Voter Communication
Universe
Distinguishing Candidate From
Competitors
Assessing Success
Coalition Campaigning Not
a Factor
19. INCLUSION AND DEMOCRACY
(Young, 2000)
PUBLIC
DELIBERATION
PUBLIC
DECISION-MAKING
Inclusion
Political Equality
Reasonableness
Publicity
Social Justice = Ideal
26. 0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
2001 2005 2009 2013
VoterTurnout
Election Year
Minneapolis Municipal Election Year Voter Turnout
RCV
General
Primary
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
2006 2008 2010 2012
VoterTurnout
Election Year
Minneapolis Federal Election Year Voter Turnout
General
Primary
T
U
R
28. IS RCV A MORE INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL
PROCESS?
WERE CAMPAIGNS MORE INCLUSIVE?
SOCIAL JUSTICE &
INCLUSION
PUBLIC DELIBERATION
PUBLIC DECISION-MAKINGDID COMPLEXITY
CREATE A BARRIER TO
PARTICIPATION?
30. MY WIFE
Missy Weldy
MY COMMITTEE
Amy Ihlan, J.D., Ph.D. (Advisor)
Ariella Tilsen, MAOL
Martha Hardesty, Ph.D.
AND
Sharon Radd, Ed.D.
Rebecca Hawthorne, Ph.D.
ALSO
My MAOL Classmates
Election Nerds of Minneapolis
31. Photos: Flickr Creative Commons
Mpls55408, 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