Implementing ranked choice voting (RCV) in Georgia would be a significant step towards enhancing government efficiency. The most compelling reason for this change is the substantial cost savings it offers. Georgia's current system requires a runoff election if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the general election. These runoff elections are not only time-consuming but also incredibly expensive, costing taxpayers approximately $75 million each cycle according to research by Kennesaw State University. By adopting RCV, Georgia can eliminate the need for these costly runoffs, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used more effectively and efficiently.

Beyond the financial benefits, ranked choice voting also reduces the administrative burden on election officials. Running additional elections requires extensive resources, including staffing, training, and the operation of 2,300+ voting precincts across the state. This process places a significant strain on county election offices, which must manage early voting, election day voting, and absentee ballots simultaneously. By implementing RCV, Georgia can streamline the election process, allowing officials to focus on a single, more efficient election cycle, thereby reducing the logistical challenges and potential for errors or security breaches.

Moreover, ranked choice voting addresses the issue of voter turnout drop-off between general elections and runoffs. Historically, Georgia has seen a significant decline in voter participation during runoff elections, with some localities experiencing up to a 92% decrease in turnout. RCV ensures that all votes count in a single election, thereby maintaining higher voter engagement and enfranchising more citizens. Additionally, RCV has already been implemented for military and overseas voters in Georgia, allowing them to mail one ballot instead of two and shortening the runoff period from nine weeks to four weeks. This not only simplifies the voting process for these voters but also ensures that their votes are counted in a timely manner, further enhancing the efficiency of Georgia's electoral system.

RCV would move Georgia toward a democracy optimized for government efficiency.