Proportional Ranked Choice Voting can transform LA's democracy by ensuring every community gets a seat at the table
Join the MovementLos Angeles has the worst per-capita city council representation in the nation: over 260,000 residents per councilmember, compared to about 160,000 in New York City and 54,000 in Chicago. With just 15 council members serving nearly four million residents, entire communities are left without a meaningful voice at City Hall.
The 2022 Federation Tapes scandal exposed how single-seat, winner-take-all districts pit Black, Latino, Asian-Pacific Islander, and White communities against each other in a zero-sum struggle for political power. One community wins a seat, others are left out entirely. Even with a larger council of 25 or 33 members, it would still be impossible to draw proportional single-member districts that fairly represent API and Black populations.
Since 2020, nearly 60% of council races have been decided in primaries, where turnout is lower and less diverse than in general elections. In 2024, White voters made up 48% of primary voters despite being only 32% of the voting population, while the share of Latino voters was significantly less compared to the general election. This is effectively a voting rights issue.
In Los Angeles' current system, 30–49% of votes are wasted—they do not help elect anyone. Vote-splitting confuses voters and discourages strong candidates from running. Candidates must campaign twice, burning through resources, while voters face decision fatigue.
Single-seat districts create political fiefdoms where councilmembers act as the "boss" of their district. Between 2020 and 2024, three councilmembers were jailed and another was indicted on felony charges. Concentrated power in single-member districts creates environments where accountability is weak and corruption flourishes.
The creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission was a necessary step, but it does not change the underlying zero-sum dynamic of single-member districts. Redistricting will always leave winners and losers. Only PRCV can transform the structure of representation to match LA's diversity.
Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PRCV) is a proven election method for multi-seat districts that combines City Council expansion with multi-seat districts to ensure all of LA's communities get fair representation.
Simple for voters: Rank candidates in order of preference—first choice, second choice, third choice. That's it. The ballot looks familiar: the same ranked-choice format already used in multiple California cities.
Multiple winners per district: In a three-seat district, the threshold to win is 25% + 1 vote. This allows diverse communities to each elect representatives who reflect their values.
Votes transfer automatically: Once a candidate meets the threshold, their surplus votes are transferred to voters' next preferences. Candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated, and their votes also transfer. This continues until all seats are filled.
Your vote counts: If your first choice can't win, your vote automatically transfers to your next choice. Nearly every voter helps elect a candidate they support.
No vote-splitting: By eliminating vote-splitting, PRCV allows voters to rank true preferences without fear of helping elect someone they oppose.
Better campaigns: Candidates have incentives to campaign positively and appeal beyond their base to earn second- and third-choice votes, building coalitions instead of tearing each other down.
Video by More Equitable Democracy
PRCV allows diverse communities to win seats in proportion to their share of the population. With three-seat PRCV districts, every major community can win representation within each district. Asian-Pacific Islander and Black communities would have realistic paths to proportional representation citywide—impossible with single-seat districts even at 45 members. The City Council would more accurately reflect the diversity of the voters than under LA's current electoral system.
PRCV maximizes the number of effective votes. Instead of 30-49% of votes going to losing candidates under LA's current system, PRCV ensures most voters help elect someone they ranked. In Portland's 2024 PRCV election, 87% of voters helped elect at least one candidate.
Candidates have incentives to campaign positively and appeal beyond their base to earn second- and third-choice votes. In New York City and San Francisco, candidates formed alliances and encouraged voters to rank them together—building coalitions instead of tearing each other down. Instead of pitting different communities against each other for single-seat representation, PRCV elections give more of LA's diversity a proportional seat at the table within each district and citywide, de-escalating the zero-sum, divisive consequences of LA's redistricting process.
For the City: One election instead of two saves millions. LA spends millions running two rounds of elections—primaries in spring and runoffs in November. With PRCV, everything is decided in one high-turnout general election. Money saved can go to services Angelenos actually need—housing, safety, infrastructure.
For Candidates: Campaigning is less expensive when there is only one election. Candidates can spend more time talking to voters and less time fundraising.
For Public Financing: Matching funds go further, reducing strain on LA's trust fund. With PRCV, campaigns are funded once, not twice. This complements public financing by giving everyday Angelenos more voice in campaigns and reducing influence of big donors.
Diffuses power: Multiple representatives per district prevent concentration of authority and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Ends lame duck problem: Incumbents who lose do not linger for 6–8 months after being rejected by voters.
Increases inclusion: Strong candidates can run without political gatekeepers telling them to "wait their turn." Women and candidates of color are no longer treated as "spoilers." Research shows RCV helps elect more women and candidates of color.
All winners decided in November general elections when turnout is highest and voter demographics better reflect LA's true diversity—not in primaries where one demographic group dominates. This solves the low-turnout primary issue and increases voter participation.
Because multiple communities can win representation within each district, redistricting becomes far less contentious. Different line-drawing approaches produce similar results, eliminating the zero-sum battles that plague single-seat redistricting.
Voters can vote their conscience and express their preferences on a ranked ballot without strategic voting or fear of wasting their vote. Over 80% of voters in Portland elected a winning candidate they ranked, compared to potentially 49.9% who don't help elect anyone in a divided single-seat race.
PRCV isn't experimental—it's time-tested and voter-approved:
The LA Charter Reform Commission has until April 2026 to make recommendations. The City Council then decides whether to place PRCV on the November 2026 ballot. Your voice matters now.
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We are a coalition of Los Angeles residents, community organizations, and reform advocates working to bring Proportional Ranked Choice Voting to Los Angeles.
To persuade the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission and City Council to place Proportional Ranked Choice Voting on the ballot, giving LA voters the opportunity to create a more representative, accountable, and inclusive city government.
Los Angeles is at a crossroads. The 2022 Federation Tapes scandal and subsequent corruption convictions of multiple councilmembers exposed how the current system pits communities against one another in a zero-sum struggle for political power, and provides incentives for councilmembers as the "boss" of their own council district fiefdom to engage in criminal behavior.
The Charter Reform Commission was established after this scandal exposed deep flaws in LA's election system. While the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission was an important step, it doesn't address the fundamental problem: winner-take-all elections that pit communities against each other.
The Commission has until April 2026 to make recommendations. This is our rare opportunity to restore trust in our democracy and lead the nation in fair representation—to transform LA's democracy for generations to come.
This effort works hand-in-hand with the Fair Representation Los Angeles Coalition, which advocates for City Council expansion. PRCV and expansion together create a system where more Angelenos have effective representation.
We're grateful for research and analysis from the California Ranked Choice Voting Institute (CalRCV), More Equitable Democracy, the Green Party of Los Angeles County, and other organizations committed to electoral reform.
Email: info@betterelectionsla.org
We welcome the opportunity to present detailed information about PRCV, answer questions, and discuss implementation. We can provide:
Please reach out to schedule a conversation.