Irvine voters narrowly approve ranked choice voting
A 2,000 vote margin determines the city's shift to a new election method starting in 2028.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Approximately 2,000 votes decided the outcome of a local measure in Irvine on Wednesday, as residents approved a change to the city's election system. The Orange County Registrar of Voters reported final results at 5 p.m., showing that 51.5 percent of ballots cast supported the transition. The remaining 48.5 percent voted against the proposal. If the approval holds, the city will begin using ranked choice voting for council elections in 2028.
Irvine currently employs a plurality voting system for district elections. Under this method, residents cast a single vote for one candidate within their specific district. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes wins the seat outright. This approach limits voters to selecting only one representative for the area where they reside.
The new system, also referred to as instant runoff voting, alters how ballots are counted. Voters will rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one name. For example, if three candidates run for a single council seat, a voter can assign a first, second, and third place to each. Tabulation begins by counting only the first-choice votes. If no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the total, the process continues by reallocating votes from lower-ranked candidates until one surpasses the majority threshold.
The decision comes at a time of financial strain for the municipal government. Irvine faces a structural deficit that officials estimate will reach $37 million annually by July 1, 2028. If current spending patterns continue, that deficit could grow to $47 million by the end of the decade. The city is already navigating a rocky budget environment as it plans for this administrative shift.
Implementing the new method carries a high price tag. Preliminary estimates suggest that transitioning to ranked choice voting and educating the electorate could quadruple the city's election costs. No other municipality in Orange County currently utilizes this system, though Huntington Beach may adopt it in response to a judicial order.
The next step involves preparing for the 2028 election cycle. City officials must finalize the rollout plan and begin voter education campaigns. The change marks the first time Irvine will use this voting method for its local council seats.
