Reformers Urge New Method for
Voting
By Maria Noˆ´l Mandile
February 24, 2003
Election-reform advocates are pushing the state to consider a
new method of voting, called "instant run-off voting," or IRV.
IRV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If
no one wins the majority vote, the candidate with the fewest
first-choice votes is eliminated, and a run-off is recounted
immediately.
Australia, Ireland and some U.S. and British cities currently
use the system. State Rep. Thomas Bull, a Democrat from Freeport,
sponsored the bill in Maine.
"Instant run-off voting is a way of making sure that whoever
wins (an election) has more than 50 percent of the vote," explained
Senate President Beverly Dagget, a Democrat and co-sponsor of the
bill.
Maines last five governors - John Baldacci, Angus King, John
McKernan, Joseph Brennan and James Longley - won at least one
election without a majority vote.
Dagget said that IRV may or may not change the outcome of a
vote, but it ensures that the candidate most preferred by the public
wins.
"It gives a much more clear indication of the will of the
people," said Bull.
It also allows more candidates to get involved in a race
without "spoiling" the results by taking votes from primary candidates.
Proponents of IRV add that it reduces mudslinging and negative
campaigning, because candidates will want supporters of other
candidates to place them as second and third choices.
But opponents say the new process could confuse voters and
cause more problems than it solves.
"As straightforward as (IRV) is, people still make mistakes,"
said Kate Defour, legislative advocate for the Maine Municipal
Association in Augusta. "We think theres a greater chance of error and
invalidation of ballots."
To this, Bull responded, "I think theyre discrediting the
intelligence of the voters."
IRV has the potential to take effect with next falls elections.
But such a fast change is unlikely, said supporters.
Bull said it would be better for the state of Maine to think
carefully about IRV and take time deciding how best to implement it.
"There are a lot of logistical issues that need to be worked
out," he said.
It could cost as much as $9 million to revamp machines, change
ballots and educate the public, explained Dagget.
"Thats a real cost to communities," said Defour. "Everybody is
having budget problems."
Dagget agreed.
"With todays limited resources, we'd probably be looking at
health care and education first," she said.
