‘Instant runoff’ voting sought

Two city councilmen called Tuesday for a ballot measure that would ask voters to cut in half the number of local elections staged in Los Angeles.

Councilmen Jose Huizar and Bill Rosendahl said they want to place a City Charter amendment on the March ballot that would allow “instant runoff” voting for selected school board, city and community college district elections. Instant runoffs rely on a complicated formula for selecting a winner, with voters ranking their top three candidates.

Huizar and Rosendahl contend that such a process would result in fewer elections overall and ultimately increase voter participation. Any money saved would go toward an effort to create full taxpayer financing of local candidates.

-- David Zahniser