-Seattle Proposition Numbers 1A and 1B.
Proposition 1A was submitted to the city clerk
as Initiative 134, and Proposition 1B
was proposed as an alternative to 1A
by the city council and mayor as ordinance 126625.
The two propositions concern allowing voters
to select multiple candidates on their ballots
in city primary elections.
Voters will be asked two questions --
one, if either of these proposals should be enacted,
yes or no, and two, regardless of the answer in Question 1,
which option would they choose
should one of these proposals be enacted, 1A or 1B?
The responses to Question 2 will only be counted
if there are more yes votes than no votes in Question 1.
Proposition 1A, Initiative 134,
would allow voters in primary elections for mayor,
city attorney, and city council, to select as many candidates
as they approve of for each office.
The two candidates receiving the most votes for each office
would advance to the general elections
consistent with state law.
The city would consult with King County
to include instructions on the primary ballot,
such as vote for as many as you approve of for each office.
As an alternative, the Seattle City Council and Mayor
have proposed Proposition 1B,
which would allow primary election voters
to rank candidates by preference.
In the first round of counting,
each voter's top preference would be counted.
The candidate receiving the fewest votes
would be eliminated.
Successive rounds of counting
would eliminate one candidate each round,
counting each voter's top preference
among remaining candidates until two candidates
remain to proceed to the general election.
King County would include instructions
on the ballot for voters.
Voters will be asked
if either of these proposals should be enacted,
then they will be asked to choose which option they prefer,
should one be enacted.
All voters in the city of Seattle
can vote on the two questions
in Seattle Proposition numbers 1A and 1B.
-My name is Sarah Ward,
and I'm a Seattle resident and attorney.
Proposition 1A, or approval voting,
is a simple, nonpartisan change that empowers voters.
It lets you vote for all the candidates you support
in Seattle primary elections instead of just one.
Just like today, the two candidates
with the most votes advance to the general election.
Proposition 1A means true representation.
When you can support multiple candidates,
every candidate will compete for your support.
With approval voting, candidates must propose policies
that are realistic to implement and popular with all voters,
not just their strongest supporters.
Proposition 1A will make our leaders accountable
to underrepresented groups they'd usually ignore.
In St. Louis, a majority-minority city,
voters made history by electing
the first ever Black woman as mayor using approval voting.
According to election experts, approval voting winners
represent voters better than any other election system,
including ranked choice voting.
That's why election reform groups,
like Equal Vote Coalition
and the Center for Election Science, support it.
Proposition 1A is also fast and free to implement.
City Council proposed Proposition 1B
uses a complex system
that would cost $3 million more per election
and take until at least 2027 to implement.
In contrast, approval voting
is so simple, the ballot does not have to change.
And just like today,
results are available the evening of the primary.
Proposition 1A could be used in Seattle as soon as 2023.
Vote yes on Proposition 1A
for representation and accountability.
-Ranked choice voting is a fair and better way to vote
that gives voters more voice and more choice.
Whether you're a renter or a homeowner,
you live in Rainier Beach or Magnolia,
you have deep roots in Seattle or you're a newcomer,
most of us agree that our democracy works best
when everyone is fully heard.
With ranked choice voting, you have the freedom
to vote for your candidates in the order you prefer.
And know that your vote and your voice will matter.
Ranked choice voting lets you rank candidates
based on your first, second, and third choices and so on,
so that even if your first choice candidate doesn't win,
you can still affect the outcome of the election
because your vote will count towards your next choice.
The other option on the ballot encourages you to select
all the candidates you could settle for
rather than the ones you really want to win.
And you can't differentiate
between the candidates you like best
and who you could just live with.
Ranked choice voting is a proven system
that is already being used in more than 50 cities
and counties across the U.S.
It has encouraged more positive campaigning
and data shows that voters like it and find it simple.
Together, and with the support of organizations
like the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County,
the King County Democrats, Fair Vote Washington,
and many other community-based organizations,
we can give voters more voice and more choice
with ranked choice voting. Vote yes on 1B.
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