Business Week
Instant Runoff Voting: An
Idea Whose Time Has Come Letters November 18, 2002
There is a simple solution to both major parties' fear
that third parties will "spoil" their elections: instant runoff
voting ("The greens vs. the Dems: Another nightmare on Election
Street?" Washington Outlook, Oct. 28). Instant runoff voting is used
in Ireland (to elect the President), in Australia (to elect the
House of Representatives), and in London (to elect the mayor), and
it will be used for all San Francisco elections beginning in 2003.
IRV is already used by absentee voters in Louisiana. Voters indicate
their second choice at the same time as their first, and the winner
must receive a majority of the vote.
Steve Chessin Californians for Electoral Reform
Mountain View, Calif. |