-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.