Instant Runoffs Gaining SupportBy Dan Johnson-Weinberger
Published May 31st 2001 in Roll Call
I think the Libertarians' argument that they spoiled two Senate races for the Republicans is more valid than what you indicated in the May 28 edition of "Heard on the Hill." So long as states continue to use plurality elections where "winners" don't have to earn a majority of votes, this structural problem is not going away for the major parties, especially in close races where third party candidates consistently earn a few percentage points.
The ultimate answer to the problem of spoiled elections through split votes is emerging in more states every year: instant runoff voting. A dozen states introduced legislation to use instant runoff voting this year, more will surely come in 2002. Republicans have led the way in Alaska by putting it on the November 2002 ballot for federal races; the Democratic Speaker of the California state Assembly, Robert Hertzberg, is a supporter. Savvy political operatives should consider joining them and working to take out "spoiler" insurance in their home states by implementing instant runoff voting.
- Dan Johnson-Weinberger, National Field Director, Center for Voting and Democracy
The ultimate answer to the problem of spoiled elections through split votes is emerging in more states every year: instant runoff voting. A dozen states introduced legislation to use instant runoff voting this year, more will surely come in 2002. Republicans have led the way in Alaska by putting it on the November 2002 ballot for federal races; the Democratic Speaker of the California state Assembly, Robert Hertzberg, is a supporter. Savvy political operatives should consider joining them and working to take out "spoiler" insurance in their home states by implementing instant runoff voting.
- Dan Johnson-Weinberger, National Field Director, Center for Voting and Democracy
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.