Today, Honest Elections Project Action launched a five-figure ad campaign to encourage Georgia lawmakers to advance SB 175 – legislation to ban ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Georgia, which has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. The campaign will include a mobile billboard in front of the Georgia Capitol, an ad in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and targeted digital ads. The ads direct to a fact sheet about why RCV is wrong for Georgia.
Jason Snead, Executive Director of Honest Elections Project Action, released the following statement:
“Georgia lawmakers have a great opportunity to protect the state from ranked-choice voting (RCV). RCV is a complicated scheme backed by liberal special interests as a way to push politics to the left. Americans do not want to fundamentally change how elections work. That’s why more than a dozen states have already banned ranked-choice voting.
“RCV is a convoluted voting method that people do not like because it makes it harder to vote. RCV turns elections into a black box and delays election results, damaging trust in elections and driving down turnout. Georgia cannot afford to fall victim to the liberal push to implement RCV. Georgia lawmakers in the House should pass SB 175 to ensure RCV cannot take root in the Peach State.”
Background
RCV has been banned in 13 states across the country to pre-empt liberal D.C.-based groups pushing states and localities to adopt RCV. In 2024, six states rejected ballot measures to implement RCV. Many localities that have tried using RCV have repealed it in short order. In Utah, more than half of the cities participating in an RCV pilot program have walked away citing voter confusion and distrust.
Studies have shown that a substantial number of votes are thrown out through RCV during instant runoffs, effectively disenfranchising voters. Another study showed RCV reduces voter turnout, particularly among low propensity voters.
RCV can also cause long delays in elections results, inviting accusations of impropriety and damaging public trust in outcomes. In Oakland, California, officials certified the wrong winner in a 2023 election. The true winner was forced to file a lawsuit in order to take his seat.
Bottom line: Georgia lawmakers should act now to protect Georgia’s elections from RCV by passing SB 175.