Ranked choice voting (Measure 117) is on the ballot this fall across the state in Oregon. What might this reform mean for Oregon's elections? Sightline Institute's Shannon Grimes will discuss how ranked choice voting works, what research has shown from other places that use it, and how it might affect Oregon's elections. She'll include examples from Maine, the closest analog to the proposed model for Oregon, and stories from closer to home.
Shannon Grimes is a Researcher with the Sightline Institute's Democracy program, where she focuses on studying electoral reforms in Washington and Oregon. She has connected with national experts and local administrators to understand what we know about ranked choice voting and how it works in context.
How would Measure 117 change Oregon's electoral system?
The ballot measure would establish ranked-choice voting (RCV) for elections to federal and state offices, including the president, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, and commissioner of labor and industries. Currently, Oregon uses a plurality voting system in which the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. The ballot measure would not affect state legislative elections, which would continue to use plurality voting.
The law would also authorize cities, counties, school districts, other local governments, and local districts to use ranked-choice voting for local elections unless home rule charters preempt it. The law would also require the secretary of state to establish a program to educate voters about ranked-choice voting. The law would take effect on January 1, 2028, if it is approved by voters.
Three local jurisdictions—Benton County, Multnomah County, and Portland—have adopted ranked-choice voting.
Speaker:
Shannon Grimes, Research
Sightline Institute's Democracy Program
Shannon Grimes is a Researcher with the Sightline Institute's Democracy program, where she focuses on studying electoral reforms in Washington and Oregon. She has connected with national experts and local administrators to understand what we know about ranked choice voting and how it works in context.
Her background includes a variety of policy and governance issue areas, from local food systems to federal caregiving supports. She has a BA from Bowdoin College and an MPA from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, and lives in Seattle.
Event Details:
Doors open at 11:30 am.
Program starts at 12:00 pm.
Registration:
Members: Free
Non-Members: $10
