Research by Professor McDaniel Shows Ranked-Choice Voting Increases Rate of Ballot Errors

NEW JERSEY HERALD/ASSOCIATED PRESS -- Jason McDaniel, associate Political Science professor at San Francisco State University, says his research shows ranked-choice voting increases the rate of ballot errors and disqualifies ballots, particularly among lower-income residents.

Picking a winner by ranked-choice could also raise the whiff of illegitimacy, he said, noting that Breed scored 36 percent of first-place votes citywide.

"I do think it might have an effect," he said. "Look, only 26 percent of voters chose Mark Leno, and that might hurt his legitimacy going forward, the perception of that" if he becomes mayor.