FairVote - IRV America

Majority rule and genuine voter choice are marks of a functioning democracy. To support voter choice in high turnout elections, we act to encourage understanding, adoption and effective implementation of instant runoff voting, a ranked choice voting system used in a growing number of American elections.

State Legislatures Looking at IRV

Exciting new bills in Minnesota, Colorado and Arkansas

IRV is gaining momentum across the country and state legislatures are taking notice. In Colorado, Rep. John Kefalas recently introduced legislation that would create an advanced voting methods study group. Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon introduced companion legislation in the Colorado Senate. In Minnesota, five state senators introduced legislation to implement IRV for federal and state offices and ensure local governments have the option to use IRV as well. In Arkansas, which already uses IRV for military and overseas voters, legislation sponsored by House Minority Leader Michael Lamoureux would implement IRV for local elections.

As IRV continues to work successfully in a growing number of cities, it is catching the attention of state level elected officials. We expect to see more state legislation introduced in the coming year.

[ Read the Colorado legislation ]
[ Read the Minnesota legislation ]
NEW! [ Read the Arkansas legislation ]
NEW! [ See the complete list of state bills ]

IRV Momentum Continues in 2007

Three New IRV Efforts to Start the New Year

IRV is off to a fast start in 2007, looking to replicate the successes of 2006. Activists in Sarasota, FL, completed a successful signature drive to place IRV on the November ballot. The Santa Fe, NM, Charter Review Commission approved IRV and has sent a resolution to the City Council for approval. In Springfield, IL, the City Council unanimously placed an IRV measure on the April ballot. This measure applies to overseas absentee voters and has the backing of the Mayor in addition to that of the Council.

These three cities demonstrate the growing support for IRV among local elected officials who see IRV as the solution to high cost, low turnout plurality elections. They also highlight the effective work of dedicated local activists who worked to put IRV on the ballot. Stay tuned for more exciting IRV news from these cities and elsewhere in 2007!

[ IRV qualifies for the ballot in Sarasota ]
[ Read a press release from the mayor of Springfield ]
[ More about IRV for military and overseas voters ]

San Francisco's Third IRV Election a Success

Exit Poll of Asian American Voters Shows Strong Support

San Francisco's third city-wide round of elections under instant runoff voting were a success. Multiple instant runoffs yielded majority winners in two hotly contested District Supervisor races. Exit polls in one District showed a high percentage of voters cast multiple rankings, with low voter error.

66% of Asian-American voters in District 4 found IRV "helpful," partly because it guaranteed that majority-Asian American district could elect a candidate of choice. The support of Asian American voters was divided among four Asian American candidates in the first round of counting. It nearly was the first IRV election in San Francsico where the first-choice leader did not win in the end; a non-Asian candidate finished a very close second in the first choice count. Such reversals don't happen very often, but when they do, it means a plurality winner would have triumphed over a fractured majority without IRV.

[Article on the District 4 race]
[Candidates accept instant runoff results in District 4]
[More on instant runoff voting]
[More on IRV in San Francisco, including the exit poll]

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