LA Considers Expanding City Council, Adopting Ranked-Choice Voting

The recommendations come from the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, a 13-member civilian board established in August 2024 by Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council. This commission was tasked with reviewing the city's foundational legal document and proposing amendments for consideration. The proposed expansion would increase the City Council from 15 to 25 members. The current council size was set in 1925 when Los Angeles had a population of less than 600,000 people, compared to nearly 4 million today. This means each current council member represents a population larger than many entire cities. Supporters argue that increasing the number of council districts will provide more equitable representation, particularly for smaller ethnic groups, including Black and Asian American and Pacific Islander residents. By creating smaller districts, proponents believe residents will be represented by officials who have a better understanding of their specific neighborhood issues. In comparison to other major U.S. cities, Los Angeles has a notably small city council. New York City, with a population of 8 million, has 51 council members, and Chicago, with 2.7 million residents, has a 50-member council. The proposed switch to a ranked-choice voting system would be implemented for municipal elections starting in 2032. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures a majority of first-preference votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to their supporters' second-choice candidate until one candidate reaches a majority. A key benefit of ranked-choice voting, according to advocates, is the elimination of separate primary and runoff elections, which would save the city money. This single-election system aims to give voters a greater voice and eliminate the "spoiler effect," where a third-party candidate can draw votes away from a major candidate with similar positions. The Charter Reform Commission's recommendations must first be reviewed by the City Council. The council will then decide which, if any, of the proposed charter amendments will be placed on the ballot for voters to approve.