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.
IRV on the Ballot in Minneapolis
Skyline of MinneapolisThe Minneapolis City Council voted 11-1 on May 26 to submit to the voters a charter amendment to use instant runoff voting (IRV) for city elections. It will appear as a question on the November 7, 2006 ballot.

The Better Ballot Campaign is backed by a large coalition of community organizations and more than 40 elected Minneapolis leaders. FairVote Minnesota also played a key educational role in the city.

[ The Better Ballot Campaign ]
[ FairVote Minnesota ]
[ Star Tribune on IRV ]


Vermont State House and Senate Pass IRV Study Bill
Implementation of instant runoff voting one step closer in Vermont
Picture of a license plate from VermontOn 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 ]


IRV Victory In Student Elections
Georgetown votes for IRV, Dartmouth IRV election a success
Picture of the healey building at Georgetown UniversityIn a recent Student Association meeting at Georgetown University, FairVote staffers David Moon and Jack Santucci spoke with students in hopes the school would be the next on FairVote’s list of colleges implementing instant runoff voting in its student elections. Luckily, their presence helped students decide to vote in favor of implementing IRV for next spring’s presidential elections.

At other colleges across the country, IRV is alive and well. Dartmouth University’s Student Assembly recently saw a write-in candidate win in a landslide victory with a margin of 356 votes after instant runoff voting was completed. Despite a bit of controversy surrounding the winner, junior Tim Andreadis, who had run a “sensationalist campaign” in the minds of some Dartmouth students, he still received 1,025 of 2,435 votes cast in the first round as a write-in.

[ Matthew Stoller’s IRV letter in the Hoya ]
[ Amber Krosel’s FairVote response letter in the Hoya ]
[ Dartmouth IRV elections article ]


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Recent Articles
October 30th 2009
Don Fraser and George Latimer: The case for instant-runoff voting is clear
Star Tribune

Two former politicians tell St. Paul voters that IRV is "vitally important to us as citizens and as members of our communities."

October 29th 2009
Plurality voting rule is the real election spoiler
Baltimore Sun

In the midst of 3-way races in NJ and NY, FairVote board member and 1980 presidential candidate John Anderson makes the case for IRV over our flawed plurality system.

October 25th 2009
CHARTER AMENDMENT 3: County voters would lose power
The News Tribune

Amendment 3 to the Pierce county charter is an attempt by incumbent politicians to rig the system and prevent any serious challengers from competing. IRV is simply too fair and too democratic to not keep using in our electoral system.

October 22nd 2009
St. Paul should join IRV bandwagon
Star Tribune

Star Tribune stands behind IRV voting. They believe that if this system is used in St. Paul, it will show the state of Missouri that IRV can work and can better represent the voters in the state.