|
Recommended by Robert Rule’s of Order and used for government elections around the United States and the world, instant runoff voting (IRV) is a constitutionally supported means to avoid the expense and difficulties of runoff elections. Compared to the traditional “delayed” runoff, IRV saves taxpayers money, cuts the costs of running campaigns, elects candidates with higher voter turnout and reduces negative campaigning because candidates seek a #2 ranking from their opponents’ supporters. |
|---|
How the simplest version of instant runoff voting works:
First round of counting: The voters rank their favorite candidate first and gain the option of ranking additional choices (second, third, etc.) if they wish. In the first round of counting, the voters’ #1 choices are tallied. A candidate who receives enough first choices to win a majority of the vote is the winner. If there is no majority winner, the instant runoff is triggered – just as in traditional runoff systems.
Second round: If no candidate receives a majority of first choices, all candidates but the top two vote getters can be eliminated, just as in traditional runoffs. If your #1 choice loses, your vote now goes to the runoff candidate you ranked highest. The reallocated votes are added to the counts of the top vote-getters; the candidate with the most votes wins. (Some IRV elections use sequential elimination where only the lowest vote-getter is eliminated after each round until there is a majority winner.)
The benefits of instant runoff voting:
Instant runoff voting (IRV) does what a traditional runoff system does to ensure that the winner has majority support – but does so in one election rather than two. IRV does the following:
Accommodates more than two candidates without the risk of undemocratic outcomes. IRV accommodates more choices, while promoting majority rule.
Saves localities, taxpayers and candidates money now used to hold two elections.
Ensures higher voter turnout than when voters are asked to vote in two elections.
Eases the administrative burden on election officials who run one election, not two.
Discourages negative campaigning because victories may require candidates to be
the second or third choices of the supporters of some of their opponents.
Where instant runoff voting is used:
Louisiana: More than 10,000 overseas and out-of-state military voters received IRV ballots in 2004. Arkansas and South Carolina have similar laws that work well.
Washington State: In 2005 Gov. Gregoire (D) signed a bipartisan bill backing IRV. Pierce County (WA) passed IRV and will it for county executive elections in 2008.
Vermont: In May 2005 Gov. Douglas (R) signed a bill that led to Burlington using IRV in mayoral elections in 2006, as approved by voters by a two-to-one margin in 2005.
California: San Francisco has run four IRV elections since 2004 and expects it to save $15 million by 2015. Voters have passed it in Oakland, San Leandro and Berkeley.
North Carolina: Cary (NC) used IRV in 2007 and seven in ten voters want to keep it.
Minnesota: Minneapolis voted 65% for IRV and is scheduled to use it in 2009.
Universities: Many colleges and universities use IRV for student elections, including: NC State, William and Mary, Princeton, Rice and Universities of Virginia and Oklahoma.
Organizations: Many groups and corporations use IRV to elect their board of directors.
Nations: IRV is used to elect Australia’s house, Ireland’s president and London’s mayor
Heisman trophy: Even the winners of this prize are picked by a ranked voting system.
FairVote – The Center for Voting and Democracy
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610, Takoma Park, MD 20912 www.fairvote.org / (301) 270-4616
In
Oregon, contact FairVote Oregon c/o David Delk 503-232-5495
davidafd@msn.com.
|
These materials will be available at the
forum. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HOME | TOP | SOS
Forum Home |
Last Updated:
April 29, 2008