Today, Ranked Choice Voting ABQ, a community coalition of 12 organizations led by Common Cause New Mexico, rallied at Albuquerque City Hall and gave public comments advocating for the City to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for its municipal elections.

Currently, if none of the candidates in an Albuquerque election earn at least 51% of the vote, the city must automatically conduct an expensive runoff election. Such an election can cost taxpayers upwards of one million dollars per runoff — which also results in dismal voter turnout. Rank choice voting would eliminate the need for a runoff election while providing more representative outcomes and higher-turnout elections. 

Albuquerque is trailing behind New Mexico’s other major municipalities in adopting rank choice voting, which has been successfully implemented in Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and 52 other cities, offering nearly 14 million voters across 23 states and Washington, D.C. more choice while saving public dollars.

Select quotes from the rally and public comments:

“Albuquerque’s City Council has been dragging their feet when it comes to ranked choice voting, claiming it’s too complicated for voters. Common Cause believes in and trusts the voters to pick the candidates that best represent them. It’s time for our city to embrace change, save taxpayer money, and allow voters more opportunity to make their voices heard.”

—Mason Graham, Policy Director, Common Cause New Mexico

“New Mexico has been on the forefront of democracy reforms and has one of the best Voting Rights Acts in the country; Albuquerque needs to modernize municipal elections by implementing Ranked Choice Voting. This ensures that peoples’ voices are truly represented and saves the city millions of dollars by eliminating the runoff process which is long and cumbersome.”

—Andrea Serrano, Executive Director, OLÉ

“When every vote counts, our democracy works better. Ranked Choice Voting encourages collaboration instead of competition, reducing divisive campaigning. By allowing candidates to earn support beyond first-choice votes, it refocuses our elections on ideas and community, not ego and division — reminding us that public service should be about people, not politics.” 

—Sachi Watase, Executive Director, New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC)

“A democracy that engages more people, further engages LGBTQ people who are currently strategically under-engaged by the system.”

—Marshall Martinez, Executive Director, Equality New Mexico (EQNM)

“Ranked choice voting is democracy in action. New Mexicans should be able to freely express their beliefs at the ballot box without any limitations. Implementing a ranking system in our elections enables constituents to consider all issue matters, ensuring well-informed decision-making when casting a vote.” 

—Alwen Salazar, NM CAFe

“Without a healthy democracy, we cannot win our fights for a healthy environment and thriving communities. Ranked Choice Voting is a step forward in strengthening our democracy, and gives voters the freedom to choose candidates who best represent their values. Conservation Voters New Mexico is proud to support measures that give more power to voters.”

—John Martinez, Political Director, Conservation Voters New Mexico