By Ken Marten
Published January 15th 2004 in Mirror
Negative campaigning, third party spoilers and plurality winners are common gripes about elections that often result in low voter turnout. Can the system be fixed?
Yes, say a group of Ferndale activists, by implementing Instant Runoff Voting.
IRV is a method of electing a single winner that provides an alternative to plurality elections in which the highest vote getter wins even if he receives less than 50 percent of the vote.
"IRV is to our current system like computers are to typewriters," said Tom Ness, a member of Ferndale for Instant Runoff Voting (FIRV).
"We feel IRV is an improvement of democracy."
How it works
In the IRV system, voters rank candidates in order of choice: first, second, third and so on. It takes a majority -- more than 50 percent -- to win. If a candidate receives a majority of the first choice votes, then he's elected. If not, the last place candidate is defeated and all ballots are counted again. In the second count, each ballot cast for the defeated candidate counts for the next choice candidate listed on the ballot. The process of eliminating the last place candidate and recounting the ballots continues until one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
IRV is an instant series of runoff elections in which one candidate is eliminated each election. In each round, every voter has one vote for a continuing candidate.
If only two candidates are running for an office, IRV doesn't apply to the election barring a massive write-in campaign.
"The main thing is that if someone gets a majority of the vote on the first count, IRV doesn't matter," said FIRV member Howard Dittkoff of Oak Park. "The worst case scenario in IRV is what you have now."
Improvements
The Michigan Election Reform Coalition endorses IRV, and FIRV sees the system as a great start toward making positive political changes.
"The problems it solves are key," Dittkoff said. "First, it's simply mathematically fair that you have leaders elected with majority support."
Presidential elections in which the winner received less than 50 percent of the vote are fairly common. George W. Bush received 48.4 percent in 2000, Bill Clinton garnered 48.2 percent in 1996 and 42.9 percent in 1992, and Richard Nixon got 43.4 percent in 1968.
IRV supporters think it will eventually increase voter turnout because it would provide an incentive to participate: Votes are still counted even if a voter's first choice candidate is defeated.
"Right now, if you vote for anyone other than the top two, your vote essentially doesn't count," Dittkoff said.
Supporters say IRV also reduces negative campaigning, a traditional voter turn-off. They argue that because IRV may require second and third choice votes to win, candidates focus more on the issues and form coalitions. Research suggests that personal attacks and smear tactics are much less effective in an IRV election.
IRV in use
IRV was developed in the 19th century and is used around the world. Ireland uses IRV to elect its president, Australia to elect its legislature, London to elect its mayor, San Francisco to elect its mayor and other officials, and Utah Republicans to nominate congressional nominees at its state convention. Many organizations also frequently use it to elect officers, and many colleges are using IRV to elect student government bodies.
FIRV wants Ferndale to use IRV for its mayoral race, and already has the support of Mayor Robert Porter. It plans to put an IRV initiative on Ferndale's 2004 election ballot.
"That's our goal," Dittkoff said. "As we get closer to the date and if it appears we don't have the support, we'll wait another year."
In FIRV's best-case scenario, IRV would be used for the 2005 mayoral election, but not for the council election. Dittkoff said IRV supporters in Royal Oak plan to introduce the system to elected officials soon.
Participation
The Mirror has teamed with FIRV to conduct an IRV experiment involving readers. Read the IRV ballot and vote for your favorite flavor of ice cream. Cut it out and send it to IRV, Mirror Newspapers, 1523 N. Main, Royal Oak, MI 48067. Ballots may also be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Executive Editor Steve Stein at [email protected]. Type "IRV" in the subject line.
Please include your hometown, but not your name. We encourage comments. Please don't vote more than once. We also ask that only readers age 18 and older vote.
We'll run the ballot in the next three issues along with more IRV articles. Results will be shared with FIRV and we'll publish them in February.
Yes, say a group of Ferndale activists, by implementing Instant Runoff Voting.
IRV is a method of electing a single winner that provides an alternative to plurality elections in which the highest vote getter wins even if he receives less than 50 percent of the vote.
"IRV is to our current system like computers are to typewriters," said Tom Ness, a member of Ferndale for Instant Runoff Voting (FIRV).
"We feel IRV is an improvement of democracy."
How it works
In the IRV system, voters rank candidates in order of choice: first, second, third and so on. It takes a majority -- more than 50 percent -- to win. If a candidate receives a majority of the first choice votes, then he's elected. If not, the last place candidate is defeated and all ballots are counted again. In the second count, each ballot cast for the defeated candidate counts for the next choice candidate listed on the ballot. The process of eliminating the last place candidate and recounting the ballots continues until one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
IRV is an instant series of runoff elections in which one candidate is eliminated each election. In each round, every voter has one vote for a continuing candidate.
If only two candidates are running for an office, IRV doesn't apply to the election barring a massive write-in campaign.
"The main thing is that if someone gets a majority of the vote on the first count, IRV doesn't matter," said FIRV member Howard Dittkoff of Oak Park. "The worst case scenario in IRV is what you have now."
Improvements
The Michigan Election Reform Coalition endorses IRV, and FIRV sees the system as a great start toward making positive political changes.
"The problems it solves are key," Dittkoff said. "First, it's simply mathematically fair that you have leaders elected with majority support."
Presidential elections in which the winner received less than 50 percent of the vote are fairly common. George W. Bush received 48.4 percent in 2000, Bill Clinton garnered 48.2 percent in 1996 and 42.9 percent in 1992, and Richard Nixon got 43.4 percent in 1968.
IRV supporters think it will eventually increase voter turnout because it would provide an incentive to participate: Votes are still counted even if a voter's first choice candidate is defeated.
"Right now, if you vote for anyone other than the top two, your vote essentially doesn't count," Dittkoff said.
Supporters say IRV also reduces negative campaigning, a traditional voter turn-off. They argue that because IRV may require second and third choice votes to win, candidates focus more on the issues and form coalitions. Research suggests that personal attacks and smear tactics are much less effective in an IRV election.
IRV in use
IRV was developed in the 19th century and is used around the world. Ireland uses IRV to elect its president, Australia to elect its legislature, London to elect its mayor, San Francisco to elect its mayor and other officials, and Utah Republicans to nominate congressional nominees at its state convention. Many organizations also frequently use it to elect officers, and many colleges are using IRV to elect student government bodies.
FIRV wants Ferndale to use IRV for its mayoral race, and already has the support of Mayor Robert Porter. It plans to put an IRV initiative on Ferndale's 2004 election ballot.
"That's our goal," Dittkoff said. "As we get closer to the date and if it appears we don't have the support, we'll wait another year."
In FIRV's best-case scenario, IRV would be used for the 2005 mayoral election, but not for the council election. Dittkoff said IRV supporters in Royal Oak plan to introduce the system to elected officials soon.
Participation
The Mirror has teamed with FIRV to conduct an IRV experiment involving readers. Read the IRV ballot and vote for your favorite flavor of ice cream. Cut it out and send it to IRV, Mirror Newspapers, 1523 N. Main, Royal Oak, MI 48067. Ballots may also be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Executive Editor Steve Stein at [email protected]. Type "IRV" in the subject line.
Please include your hometown, but not your name. We encourage comments. Please don't vote more than once. We also ask that only readers age 18 and older vote.
We'll run the ballot in the next three issues along with more IRV articles. Results will be shared with FIRV and we'll publish them in February.
