Irvine puts ranked-choice voting on the November ballot — with a caveat

Irvine voters will decide in November whether to adopt ranked-choice voting for city elections, pending financial constraints. The City Council approved the measure with a cost cap of 0.23% of the general fund budget ($710,000) to implement the system starting in 2028. Opponents cited financial concerns and uncertainty about cost estimates, while supporters argued it would reduce political manipulation by 'spoiler candidates' and improve voter outcomes.