Since its beginning, American democracy has inspired people around the world to demand greater freedom for themselves -- from the French Revolution to the defeat of apartheid in South Africa. And we Americans have continually pushed to perfect the founders� vision of democracy through legislation and constitutional amendments expanding suffrage and making our government more truly representative.

In that spirit, there is now pending a bill that democracy lovers � regardless of political affiliation � should embrace. House Bill 07-1162 �The Voter Choice Act� has been put forward by John Kefalas (D) of House District 52 and Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon.

Our current plurality system (whichever candidate gets the most votes wins) is simple, and works most of the time. The Voter Choice Act will establish a study group to investigate new voting methods for Colorado that go beyond plurality.

What�s wrong with plurality? There are two very serious shortcomings.

First, our current system allows an office-holder to be elected with less than a majority of votes. In the three-way Presidential race of 1992, Bill Clinton was elected with less than 50% of the popular vote. In 2006, Marilyn Musgrave won re-election as the choice of only 45.61% of voters in CD-4.

Second, with plurality citizens vote defensively�that is, they vote against a candidate they dislike rather than voting for a candidate they really approve of. They do so because even though a minor party candidate may best represent a voter�s values, he or she may not cast a ballot for that person out of fear of electing a major party candidate who represents none of those values.

I speak, of course, of the dreaded �spoiler effect�. People across America still hold Green Party candidate Ralph Nader responsible for the 2000 election of George W. Bush. Bush won Florida by only 537 votes, so many Americans may forever look upon the 97,488 votes cast for Nader as ballots for Bush. Here in Colorado, CD-7 voters realized the �spoiler effect� in 2002 when Mike Feeley lost to Bob Beauprez by just 121 votes, while Green Party candidate Dave Chandler received 3,274.

There are viable alternatives to plurality. Cities, counties and states such as San Francisco, California, Burlington, Vermont, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pierce County, Washington, North Carolina, Louisiana and Arkansas use systems like Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), which preserves voter values while guaranteeing majority winners.

What HB 07-1162 will do is establish a 13-member study group (who will serve without compensation) to investigate these solutions. In January 2008 the study group will report back to the General Assembly on its findings and make recommendations as to the best way forward for Colorado. From there, the Legislature could adopt a pilot program for expanding our great state�s democracy.

So imagine an election day when voter values are preserved as the chance of the �spoiler effect� is reduced. Candidates are elected with a guaranteed majority. The marketplace of ideas is enriched with increased participation.

The Voter Choice Act is a large step toward that day. Democracy lovers rejoice!

Rick Van Wie was the Green Party of Colorado candidate for Secretary of State in 2006.