Editorial: Irvine’s ranked choice voting idea merits discussion

States are the “laboratories of democracy,” per the late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, and likewise cities can be laboratories within states. With that in mind, consider us intrigued by Irvine City Council’s decision to experiment with an innovate form of elections known as ranked-choice voting. Council instructed staff to prepare a draft ordinance.

The system is used for some municipal elections in 13 states. In California, eight localities have adopted it, with San Francisco the most prominent one. That liberal city’s moderate, reform-minded Mayor Daniel Lurie won his race under ranked choice.

We typically don’t like fads such as the top-two primary, which promised to reduce partisanship with a “jungle” primary that advances the top two candidates from any party to the general election. It hasn’t worked as planned and is now subject to a repeal campaign. But we’re not against fiddling with election rules — provided they improve choice and representation rather than try to secure partisan outcomes. Still, it’s best to limit expectations.

Ranked choice’s main goal is to better reflect the will of voters. Supporters also argue it could lead to more centrist candidates, as moderates are more likely to be voters’ second choice. Its biggest flaw is complexity. Voters choose their favored candidate, but also mark ballots for other candidates in order of preference. Last-place finishers are eliminated until one candidate gets a majority.

What’s the purpose? It allows voters to express more nuance in their votes. Supporters claim that it will reduce negative campaigning, as candidates need to vie for the second choice of the electorate rather than just attack their key opponent. The evidence so far is admittedly mixed. We figure that candidates will find new ways to game any system, but it’s not the worst idea. Note that one of Irvine’s ranked-choice opponents is Mayor Larry Agran, whose seemingly interminable career on the City Council started in 1978.

We doubt that ranked choice is any panacea for our nation’s deep political divisions, but we like that some cities are experimenting with such ideas.