SF Mayor Lee: Don?t Attack Ranked Choice Voting

707 H St. NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20001

July 9, 2012

The Honorable Ed Lee

San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102

Re:? Your Opposition to Ranked Choice Voting

Dear Mayor Lee:

Asian American Action Fund urges you to stop supporting a bill that will harm communities of color and the community-at-large.? We understand that you support gutting Ranked Choice Voting:? a critical reform that has helped elect a record number of minorities to the Board of Supervisors.

We strongly support keeping and improving San Francisco?s Ranked Choice Voting system (RCV), because it has leveled the playing field for all of the City?s diverse communities. For this reason, we strongly oppose the effort to do away with RCV.

As you know, Asian Americans comprise one-third of the City?s residents. Since 2000, AAA-Fund, a national political organization (aaa-fund.com), has given Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders a powerful voice in the political process. Towards that end, we take pride in supporting leaders who defend the voting rights of Asian Americans and other emerging communities.

Of great importance to us, RCV has made it possible for Asian Americans and other emerging communities to elect representatives of their choice ? a precious right guaranteed not only by the U.S. and California Voting Rights Acts, but the U.S. and California Constitutions.

Before the City adopted RCV, Asian American voter turnout tended to drop precipitously during the December runoff election. As a result, candidates like Michael Yaki and Mabel Teng lost the runoff election after leading comfortably in the primary election.

After the City adopted Ranked Choice Voting, Asian American representation in City government has more than doubled, from three to seven of the 17 seats for both citywide office and the Board of Supervisors.

By enabling residents to vote in a single November election, RCV has maximized voter participation across all of the City?s diverse communities. For this reason, we staunchly oppose any effort to move the City?s elections to September, when exceedingly few people (let alone Asian Americans) will vote.

We strongly urge you to reconsider your opposition to Ranked Choice Voting.? Specifically, we ask you to oppose the ill advised, Farrell/Olague bills that would marginalize not only Asian Americans, but every community of color.

Please do not hesitate to contact us (202.236.2048; info@aaa-fund.org) with any questions.? Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

?

Gautam Dutta, Esq.
Executive Director

Source: http://www.aaa-fund.com/2012/07/09/sf-mayor-lee-dont-attack-ranked-choice-voting/

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