Big Week for IRV

Three Legislative Advances and an Important Endorsement

The week of May 7th, 2007, was a big week for IRV across the country. The Illinois Senate approved legislation that would adopt ranked ballots for military and overseas voters. The Vermont House Government Operations Committee approved a bill, already approved by the Senate, to adopt IRV for U.S. Senate and House races in Vermont. In California, the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would give local governments the option of using IRV.

In other exciting news, former Illinois congressman John Porter of the Brookings Institution's Opportunity '08 project released a position paper promoting IRV as a means to encourage voter participation.

[ Opportunity '08 election reform factsheet ]
[ Opportunity '08 position paper by John Porter ]
[ Coverage of the Illinois legislation ]
[ Op-Ed from the Vermont League of Women Voters president ]

Vermont Senate Passes IRV

Bill Would Implement IRV for 2008 Congressional Election

On April 26th, 2007, the Vermont Senate approved legislation that would implement IRV for congressional elections beginning in 2008. This legislation generated strong support from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch and the League of Women Voters of Vermont. IRV has a strong history of support in Vermont including endorsement resolutions from many towns as well as an endorsement from former governor Howard Dean.

The bill now moves to the House, where companion legislation was introduced earlier this session with 49 sponsors.

[ Press release from League of Women Voters of Vermont ]
[ Testimony on the bill from Sen. Bernie Sanders ]
[ Testimony on the bill from Rep. Peter Welch ]
[ More about IRV in Vermont ]

Vermont State House and Senate Pass IRV Study Bill

Implementation of instant runoff voting one step closer in Vermont

On Wednesday, May 10, the Vermont State House voted in favor of a bill to study implementation of instant runoff voting (IRV) on the statewide level by 2008. The State Senate passed the measure on April 28.

The bill, backed by both the Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House, directs the Secretary of State to draw up the procedures for implementing IRV for statewide elections, including for members of Congress.

IRV has support from all elements of Vermont's civic community, including the League of Women Voters, Vermont PRG, Common Cause, the Grange, and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz.

[ FairVote Press Release ]
[ More on IRV in Vermont ]
[ Commentary by a VT Democratic candidate for governor ]