By Skyler Baldwin

Statewide advocacy groups are lauding a coming proposal by Charleston leaders who are asking the state legislature to allow municipalities to use instant-runoff voting, also known as ranked-choice voting, in future local elections. 

Such a move would void the need for costly runoffs, say groups backing the proposal, including Better Ballot South Carolina, the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce (SBCC), the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and Veterans for All Voters-South Carolina. They gathered Thursday in Charleston, united in their support for the resolution.

Knapp said instant-runoff voting also leads to more positive election cycles. 

“It encourages candidates to focus on problem solving instead of negative attacks and to listen to diverse opinions to find common ground instead of catering to a small vocal base,” he said.

Others agreed.

“Ranked-choice voting has the opportunity to move people to the middle and create a sense of camaraderie in our elections where we want to move toward solutions instead of creating more bitterness,” added Leslie Skardon, director of national issues for the League of Women Voters of South Carolina.

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