Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is an election method which gives voters more meaningful choices, reduces campaign spending, and encourages positive and issue-oriented campaigns.   Municipalities and taxpayers like IRV because IRV can eliminate the need for unnecessary and expensive two round runoff elections.

San Francisco has successfully used IRV (also known as ranked choice voting) since 2004.   Now, cities and communities across California are looking at using IRV as a way to save money and boost voter turnout.   Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro are just some of the jurisdictions which are studying or are likely to use IRV in the near future.

Steven Hill is a political writer and director of the Political Reform Program at the New America Foundation, which seeks to develop the best opportunities for reform, educate opinion leaders and the public about electoral alternatives, and encourage the formation of a broad-based coalition.

His next book, Europe's Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age (www.EuropesPromise.org), will be published in January 2010. His previous books include 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy (2006), Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner Take All Politics (2003) and Whose Vote Counts (with Rob Richie, 2001). Mr. Hill's articles and commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Guardian, Financial Times, New York Daily News, The Nation, Salon.com, American Prospect, Social Europe, Le Monde Diplomatique, Hürriyet Daily News (Turkey), Taiwan News, Roll Call, Sierra, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle, and other leading publications. Mr Hill has appeared on national and local radio and television programs, and has lectured widely in the United States and Europe. He has been a leading force for political reform in the United States for many years.