Albuquerque Council Proposes Ranked-Choice Voting for All Elections

Albuquerque City Councilors Propose Expanding Ranked-Choice Voting to All Elections

Albuquerque city councilors are considering a proposal to expand ranked-choice voting to all city elections by November 2027. The council currently uses this system for its internal seats, allowing voters to rank candidates by preference to determine a majority winner without additional runoff rounds. This setup functions like an instant runoff, where votes from eliminated candidates shift to second choices until a candidate reaches fifty percent.

Since 2013, the city has spent nearly $4.8 million on six separate runoff elections, with recent ones costing up to $1.8 million each. Voter turnout has significantly decreased in these runoffs, dropping to just 4,625 ballots in 2023. In contrast, Santa Fe and Las Cruces have successfully conducted ranked-choice races, including an eight-candidate mayoral contest decided on election night. Polls show that most voters in these cities find the system straightforward.

Supporters argue that ranked-choice voting would result in significant cost savings for programs like housing aid and reduce strain on campaigns, drawing from their own runoff experiences. However, some councilors oppose the proposal, viewing it as too complex and unfair, while the mayor supports the switch. County clerks confirm that existing machines are ready, and a voter education campaign is planned in advance. If approved, this change could eliminate costly second elections in Albuquerque.

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