On May 23rd, 2024 - Red Bank unanimously passed a ranked-choice voting (RCV) resolution that:

1. Urges New Jersey to pass the Municipal and School Board Voting Options Act, which would allow municipalities and school boards to use this better voting method
2. Commits the Red Bank Borough Council to ask voters if they want to adopt RCV once New Jersey passes RCV-enabling legislation

Read the full resolution HERE.

When the Red Bank Borough Council discussed ranked-choice voting, the consensus was clear that they were most excited about its ability to eliminate run-offs. Run-off elections waste money for taxpayers and create less democratic outcomes because they generally draw fewer voters than the general election, but they are currently the only way to ensure the majority of voters are represented.

"One of the reasons I am voting yes for this resolution...we have in this form of government, the option of run-offs...Now run-offs we struggled with a little bit, we did include them in the form of government...there's problems with it. One is the election happens three weeks later, you have to run another election. It does work, but it does cost money, it makes everything very cumbersome...The nice thing about ranked-choice is that if the state legislature ever allows us to have it and we wind up having 30 people run for council, the whole thing would be settled on election night. Ranked-choice is a good fit for the form of government we have." Councilman Ben Forest

We were able to have a more in-depth conversation about the reform with Councilwoman Nancy Facey-Blackwood, where she said: "When we [were changing our form of government to make it] as equitable as possible, ranked-choice voting came up. When Hoboken passed their (trigger ordinance) in December '21...I started to pay more attention to it".

You can watch the full conversation here: