By Associated Press
Published February 20th 2009 in Vermont Public Radio
For a second time, voters in Burlington will choose their mayor next month through instant run-off voting - ranking their choices, rather than choosing just one preference.
If none receives a majority, the lowest vote getter is eliminated and voters' second choices are added to the totals.
Last year, Mayor Bob Kiss became the first Vermont executive elected via instant runoff voting, which was approved in Burlington in 2005.
A survey conducted by University of Vermont political students in March 2006 found that most voters favored the new system.
On March 3, they will get to try it again. The ballot will have five candidates for mayor. Voters will be asked to rank them and - at a minimum - choose a first choice.
If none receives a majority, the lowest vote getter is eliminated and voters' second choices are added to the totals.
Last year, Mayor Bob Kiss became the first Vermont executive elected via instant runoff voting, which was approved in Burlington in 2005.
A survey conducted by University of Vermont political students in March 2006 found that most voters favored the new system.
On March 3, they will get to try it again. The ballot will have five candidates for mayor. Voters will be asked to rank them and - at a minimum - choose a first choice.
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.