Instant Runoff Voting (also known as ranked choice voting, RCV) is a simple but powerful upgrade to Georgia's outdated runoff election system. Day by day, more and more Georgia voters are calling for RCV from their representatives to improve our elections and empower voters.

Better Ballot Georgia is pleased to produce this voter guide to inform Georgia primary voters of their candidates’ thoughts and opinions on RCV. Below you will find a snapshot of candidates' responses.

Follow this link to find the full voter guide.

All statements are provided by the candidates themselves and are not changed or editorialized by the Better Ballot Georgia. Candidate responses to the questions are their own and do not represent the views of Better Ballot Georgia. This document is not an endorsement or disapproval of any candidate. This document serves to inform voters of candidates’ positions pertinent to Ranked Choice Voting.

To learn more about Instant Runoff/Ranked Choice Voting, go to our information page. 

Spotlights

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/200/300/BeckyEvansgreenshirtheadshot.jpg

Becky Evans (D)
HD 90

 "I support localities within Georgia having the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in order to maintain the majority support without having to conduct expensive and time consuming runoff elections."

Image of David Jenkins

David Jenkins (R)
HD 136

 "Ranked choice [for localities] would be much cheaper than runoffs and yield better results."

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/200/300/Louis_Ligon.jpeg

Louis Ligon (R)
SD 7

 "Just as in our state elections, local governments could certainly benefit from RCV in cost savings for the elections process. I believe that Ranked Choice Voting would be beneficial to Georgia's voting process to make it more efficient and streamlined. The State of Georgia should let the voters decide if they feel RCV would be beneficial for our state legislature."

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/200/300/ParentElena.jpg

Elena Parent (D)
SD 44

 "I support Ranked Choice Voting for runoff elections because there are so many benefits in some cases.  This simple instant runoff process allows more parties, more candidates to run, while requiring a majority to win. Rank choice voting incentivizes candidates to appeal to more voters – not just to extremists. And, ranked choice voting can save us money."

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/200/300/HenryCovington2024.jpg

Henry Covington (D)
HD 158

  

"I think that [RCV] is a great idea. Some voters like more than one candidate, with RCV it would make it a lot easier for the individual voter. I agree with RCV at the state level as well. Most candidates have done something positive or something that many voters may like. Even if they are in different parties, with RCV, they can rank the candidate by the deeds they have done."

All known candidate stances

Supports RCV
Partially supports RCV
Opposes RCV

Georgia House of Representatives

RCV sentiment District Name Party
42 Gabriel Sanchez D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I think it's a great way to introduce ranked choice voting to voters and help them learn how it works and witness the benefits! We should definitely pass legislation to allow local municipalities to use it, and also investing in educating voters around it.”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I believe Ranked Choice Voting is a much better and efficient system of voting that will ensure better representation, increased voter participation, and a more educated voter.”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “We unfortunately have leadership in Georgia who instead of expanding the right to vote and improving our elections are unnecessarily suppressing it with overly strict measures that don't actually provide much more security but do make it harder for certain voters to vote. We should have same day voter registration, expand drop boxes to 2020 levels, expand voting by mail, and make election day a paid holiday off for workers. We should also stop the purges of voters that disproportionately impact voters of color who are eligible to vote, and make sure all measures are taken to avoid removing eligible voters from the rolls. And of course, we should implement Ranked Choice Voting for our elections.”
49 Charles “Chuck” Squires D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Ranked choice voting is being tested in several states. We should analyze successes and failures of the other states and make an informed decision on whether to implement for Georgia.”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I believe this could have merit.”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Each election is unique. Just as every citizen we represent is unique. We have to listen to their wants and needs and work extremely hard to facilitate them.”
56 Adalina “Ada” Merello D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I agree”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I think it is a good idea”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Access and oppression”
56 Corwin Monson D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Ranked Choice Voting is a form of voter suppression and is too confusing for voters”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “The way of voting now is fine, attempting to change it would cause chaos”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Voter suppression”
60 Sheila Jones D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I do not agree with the option of using Ranked Choice Voting”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I am in favor of the State having runoff elections”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Affordable Quality Housing, capping the rental rates for our Senior Citizens who live in senior living facilities, increasing the Minimum Wage in Georgia, gun safety measures”
74 Maggy Martinez D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Ranked Choice Voting is a voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference. In this system, if a candidate receives a majority of first-preference votes, they are elected. If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters' next preferences. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority of votes. Ranked Choice Voting is also known as Instant Runoff Voting or Ranked-Choice Voting. I agree with it. The runoff is a waste of money and time”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “Will help to eliminate the runoff”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Reproductive rights, Voting rights, better state infrastructure, social criminal & justice reform”
90 Becky Evans D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I support localities within Georgia having the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in order to maintain the majority support without having to conduct expensive and time consuming runoff elections”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I support exploring options that would enable Georgia to use Ranked Choice Voting for statewide and legislative elections”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “I have a 100% record of fighting to protect voting rights, we need to maintain and protect access to the ballot in both early in person voting and by mail”
98 Marvin Lim D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I am supportive of Ranked Choice Voting as an option for local governments. Ranked choice voting can be more efficient. Any local government would need to invest in a great deal of education if/when it switches to RCV.”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I am supportive of Ranked Choice Voting as a possible method of conducting elections for the state. Ranked choice voting can be more efficient, as shown in the overseas/military ballot context. We would, however, need to make sure we put sufficient time, effort, and resources into educating voters, should we decide to make that switch”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “With all that has been said and done, we still need to focus on improving voters' experiences. We create too many hurdles for bona fide eligible and registered voters to vote, and can do more in terms of proactive voter education, language access, access for people with disabilities, etc. - issues that have gone by the wayside because there's been so much undue attention focused on so-called ‘voter fraud”
100 Michael Day R ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Terrible idea. Bad for Democracy”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I think it should never happen. If elected I will fight to stop it”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Georgia needs to make sure every vote is counted fairly”
131 David Byrne R ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I believe that voting in Georgia is already bordering on criminally confusing, so adding different styles of elections at the local level at this time should not be allowed. HOWEVER, I am not opposed to it in the long run, I just already think we have too many primary dates, too many restrictions, etc, and we need to clean up our elections first”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I agree with the intent behind ranked choice voting, but I have a different implementation I would like to see. I prefer the runoff, and here is why. In its current form, it really only applies to the primary election, because Georgia is opposed to third party candidates through its election ballot laws. Instead of ranked choice ballots, let us remove all candidates from the ballot, and make everyone a write-in. This would turn primaries into party endorsements instead of selections. Additionally, third parties would not be excluded from the November ballot because there would be no names on the ballot in November. Whoever the top two candidates were in November would then proceed to a runoff. My vision with this is that no one would feel like a vote for a third party would be a throwaway vote, as they would still get to partake in the runoff if a candidate did not get more than 50% of the vote. Think about it this way; everyone thinks that a vote for RFK is a protest vote against Biden or Trump, and ultimately people who may want to vote for him won't because they know he won't win. If we implemented what I just described above in the presidential race, everyone could vote for RFK if they wanted to, and who knows, maybe he might be in the top two. I believe this would be a phenomenal leap forward for our country”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Georgia is fundamentally jaded against third parties. Additionally, its runoff laws do not apply to the presidential race, which they should, and lastly, we have horrible gerrymandering”
136 David Jenkins R ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Strongly agree. These are typically nonpartisan and have a bunch of candidates. Ranked choice would be much cheaper than runoffs and yield better results”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I disagree because this will cause longer vote counts. Runoffs are not that common at the state level”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Local control leads to disparity in quality. A bad county elections superintendent can destroy confidence in Georgia elections statewide”
140 Alyssa Nia Williams D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “It could definitely be beneficial”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “It would save us time and money that is spent on having additional runoff elections”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Voter Suppression (Lengthy lines and voter purging) Lack of Transparency which causes distrust from voters”
153 Joshua Anthony D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I believe that we should always consider the voice of the people when deciding ranked voting. We want to restore the enthusiasm and trust in voting. Therefore, our voters need to see positive results and feel inspired for each election”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I believe we should do focus groups and research with our constituents to see if Ranked Choice voting is adequate and the best solution. It is always best to make sure we carefully examine to ensure integrity and make the right decision”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Since the 2020 election, we have seen numerous proposals to make changes to existing election laws. Nevertheless, we must make sure with the new maps elections are fair and not suppress any demographics”
158 Henry Covington D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I think that is a great idea. Some voters like more than one candidate, with RCV it would make it a lot easier for the individual voter”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I agree with RCV at the state level as well. Most candidates have done something positive or something that many voters may like. Even if they are in different parties, with RCV, they can rank the candidate by the deeds they have done”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “One issue that I see is people voting for candidates simply because they lived in an area for a long time. Just because you are friends, voters keep them in office, when they have done nothing for the community”

Georgia State Senate

RCV Sentiment District Name Party
1 Beth Majeroni R ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “RCV for local elections in Georgia raises concerns. It adds unnecessary complexity, leading to voter confusion and undermining our election process. Traditional voting methods, such as hand-marked, hand-counted, watermarked paper ballots, ensure simplicity, transparency, and integrity”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “While RCV may seem like an innovative solution, it introduces complexity and uncertainty into the electoral process. Runoff elections provide a clear mechanism for voters to choose between the top candidates, ensuring that the eventual winner has broad and genuine majority support. RCV, on the other hand, can be confusing for voters and may not always result in the election of the candidate preferred by the majority”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Over the last three years, Georgia has faced significant challenges, particularly allegations of election tampering that, unfortunately, remain unaddressed. Without secure elections, the fundamental trust in our democratic process has deteriorated, leaving citizens uncertain about the credibility of their voices and votes. Georgia needs to revert back to hand-marked, hand-counted, watermarked paper ballots as well as banning no-excuse absentee voting as both are crucial measures to upholding the integrity of our electoral process”
7 Louis Ligon R ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Just as in our state elections, local governments could certainly benefit from RCV in cost savings for the elections process”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I believe that Ranked Choice Voting would be beneficial to Georgia's voting process to make it more efficient and streamlined. The State of Georgia should let the voters decide if they feel RCV would be beneficial for our state legislature”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “We must have completely open and transparent Voting Integrity in our Local, State, and Federal elections. The overall entire Voter Registration should all be updated and verified that each individual voter is "Vetted" and "Verified'' and are U.S. Citizens. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that deceased people are still on the Voter Rolls in 2024. It is past time to update all "Voter Registrations''. We must have Uniform election laws so as to ban "Ballet Harvesting". One vote, One verified Voter ! We The People should be honored to go and "Cast your Vote" ! The Right To Vote has been fought, sacrificed, and died for by our past, present, and future American Heroes”
38 Richard Wright D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “I think the idea is one that sounds good in theory, but may be difficult to administer and explain”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “It would save the taxpayers money but add an extra layer of complexity to voting”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Not enough voting places in rural areas”
44 Elena Parent D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Ranked Choice Voting would be an efficient and democratic option for local elections”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I support Ranked Choice Voting for run-off elections because there are so many benefits in some cases. This simple instant runoff process allows more parties, more candidates to run, while requiring a majority to win. Rank choice voting incentivizes candidates to appeal to more voters – not just to extremists. And, ranked choice voting can save us money”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Gerrymandering and legislation that suppresses votes by making it harder to vote are the most serious issues facing our electoral process”
55 Robin Biro D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Please visit www.biroforgeorgia.com - I fully support a citizen's ballot initiative and have made it one of my top 3 initiatives. This is how Alaska got Ranked Choice Voting, which I am a big fan of”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “I am fully in support of ranked choice voting in lieu of runoff elections - it would save the state many millions of dollars. Visit my website to learn how I propose to GET there”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “What I am seeing right now is that people are unaware that their senate districts have been redistricted. Secondly, according to November exit polling, Georgians favor a citizen ballot initiative, by a 69% margin. 26 states already have this option, it is time for us to get with the program and give the electorate a way to get their issues on the ballot”
55 Osborn Murray D ▼
  1. How do you feel about localities having the option to use RCV?
    “Implementing RCV at the local level would require careful planning, voter education, and resources to ensure its successful implementation”
  2. How do you feel about using RCV for State offices?
    “There are potential challenges and complexities associated with implementing RCV. Educating voters about how RCV works and ensuring that ballots are accurately counted and tabulated can be logistical hurdles”
  3. What problems do you see with our voting system generally?
    “Gerrymandering: The drawing of electoral districts in a way that disproportionately favors one political party or demographic group over another, known as gerrymandering, has been a contentious issue in Georgia elections”