November 3rd will be the first time Minneapolis will use the voting method of ranking your candidates. I am delighted to have this method because
1) it eliminates a primary and its expense
2) it encourages more candidates to run for office and makes them all viable candidates
3) thereby encouraging more voices in our democracy
4) it encourages positive campaigns that do not alienate other candidates and their supporters
5) thereby encouraging real discussions about the issues
6) it ensures a winning candidate wins an absolute majority rather than a simple plurality and is spoiler-proof

To understand how this method works, go to www.fairvotemn.org/ or voteminneapolis.org/ or accuratedemocracy.com/c_irv.htm (from which much of this blog has been taken) Especially look at the videos–very informative. I love the MPR video (fairvote website) the best!

For the best demonstration, you can actually view your actual ballot by going to http://bit.ly/J4UxE Just put in your address and you’ll see your ballot and witness that you will have the opportunity to rank all the candidates. It is very important to rank more than one, because in case your candidate gets “dropped” your vote still can elect whoever you 2nd choice would be, or 3rd.

“The first known use of Ranked Choice Voting in a governmental election was in 1893 in Queensland, in Australia. Australians call IRV “Alternative Vote” or “Majority Preferential Voting” and use it to elect their lower house of parliament and the mayors of all their major cities. The Irish use it to elect their president and mayors.”

“Merits of IRV
Moderate candidates get a better chance to win elections. We too often see a far-right candidate lead a couple thousand zealous supporters to vote in a primary election, and so win the Republican nomination in a district that always elects that party’s nominee. A mirror image may occur in districts controlled by the Democrats. IRV can reduce the chances of that by combining the primary with the general election, greatly increasing the number of Republican voters and independents who help select their party’s representative.

The results of Instant Runoff Voting are:

• A majority winner from one election, so no winners-without-mandates and no costly runoff elections.
• Less negative campaigning, because a candidate must ask a rivals’ supporters for their 2nd choice votes.
• No hurting your first choice by ranking a 2nd, as the 2nd does not count unless the 1st choice has lost.
• No lesser-of-two-evils voting, as the voter can mark his sincere 1st choice without fear of wasting his vote. • No spoilers, as votes for minor candidates will move to each voter’s more popular choices.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 7:28 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.