On September 10, the California Senate voted 20 in favor, 19 against, on AB 1121. California bills can’t pass unless they receive 21 votes in the 40-member State Senate, so the bill failed. It allows 10 non-charter cities or counties to use Instant Runoff Voting for their own elections.
Richard, did 2 ‘non-votes” kills this bill?
Darryl, there was actually one abstention or absence, not two (20 + 19 + 1 = 40). And no, that didn’t kill the bill because the absent senator would have voted no. Had that person been a potential yes vote, then the floor manager probably would have been able to get her vote counted,
Two years ago, the vote on AB 1294 was 22-18. This wasn’t much different, just different enough to lose this time.