Oregon Ranked Choice Voting Advocates

THE MISSION OF OREGON RANKED CHOICE VOTING ADVOCATES (OR-RCV) IS TO EDUCATE OREGONIANS AND THE GREATER PUBLIC ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT CAN BETTER REFLECT THE VIEWS AND DIVERSITY OF SOCIETY THROUGH INNOVATIONS IN VOTING AND ELECTIONS.

A. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES - OR-RCV ACTED AS A POLICY EXPERT RESOURCE FOR SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES SEEKING TO REVISE THEIR ELECTION LAWS TO MAKE THEIR ELECTIONS MORE EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND FAIR THROUGH ENACTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING [RCV]. WE SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME EQUIPPING OVER 40 ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND RCV, OF WHICH ABOUT A DOZEN SPECIFICALLY ENGAGED IN A DEEPER WAY TO BECOME LEADING EDUCATORS AND ADVOCATES FOR RCV THEMSELVES.

B. OUTREACH AND NETWORKING - OR-RCV FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS ON THE EDUCATION OF DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS, POLICYMAKERS AND INFLUENCERS, AND ROUGHLY SIXTY LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFF AS TO HOW RCV WORKS AND ITS BENEFITS. ADDITIONALLY, WE LIAISED WITH NUMEROUS CIVIC GROUPS, BUSINESS GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS, ACADEMICS, AND OTHERS TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THEM IN DISCUSSING ELECTION REFORM IN OREGON.

D. LOBBYING - OR-RCV FORMED AND THEN ASSISTED A COALITION OF OVER A DOZEN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO EDUCATE LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE MECHANICS AND BENEFITS OF RCV. WE MET WITH ROUGHLY HALF OF OREGON'S ELECTED LEGISLATORS AND SEVERAL STATEWIDE OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS COUNTY CLERKS AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT STAFF THROUGOUT THE STATE. WE HAD HEARINGS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AROUND BILLS FOCUSED ON RCV.

RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT - OR-RCV FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS ON THE EDUCATION OF VOTERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND LEGISLATORS ON THE BENEFITS OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING - WHILE SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM VOTERS, PARTNER GROUPS, EXPERTS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THE BEST POSSIBLE POLICY FOR OREGONIANS. WE SUPPORTED THE FORMATION AND WORK OF A NEW, LARGER COALITION THAT FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENACTING RCV IN OREGON.