By Ryan Self
One-time Republican County Board candidate Scott Tate thinks Arlington residents would be better served if the board elections were structured differently.
Not surprisingly, the Democrats who now run the county government think the current system runs just fine.
During comments in front of the County Board on June 30, one of Tate's more unconventional ideas was that of "cumulative voting," in which voters get a certain number of votes to do with as they please.
For example, if three seats were up for election, a voter could choose to give all three of his or her votes to one candidate, or split them up in another way.
"It allows the voter to use their votes any way they want," Tate said. "It also allows voters, especially ethnic or political minorities, to 'bullet' their votes."
"This could help with political diversity in Arlington," Tate suggested. "It's been a while since we had any political balance on the board."
The last Republican on the County Board was Mike Lane, who served for seven months in 1999 after winning a special election to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Albert Eisenberg. Lane ran third in the general election in November 1999, losing to Democrats Paul Ferguson and Charles Monroe.
Ferguson said that cumulative voting is an idea that may be too radical to even be considered in Arlington.
"I appreciate Scott bringing ideas forward - it's always preferable to have an open discussion," Ferguson said. "However, my inclination is that this isn't something that's needed or that will be pursued."
"From my recollection of constitutional law, cumulative voting is usually something that's done to ensure racial balance," Ferguson added. "It's usually not done to ensure representation by a political party, which I'm sure is Scott's goal."
Ferguson also said that cumulative voting also would give voters "a chance to nominate someone with an extreme position, instead of someone who is more suited to the majority."
Other county officials were even less charitable about the concept.
"Cumulative voting defeats the 'one man, one vote' principle," said County Treasurer Frank O'Leary. "It's not just radical, but illegal. Has [Tate] read the Constitution lately?"
Tate, however, defended the proposal.
"It sounds radical, but it's not that unusual of an idea," he said. "It would give people a real chance to elect someone from their group or party, and possibly create healthier voter participation."
Tate said that even if cumulative voting isn't the answer, it's important for the county to consider alternatives.
"This is an issue that is important enough to have a county-led group look into the options," he said.
Not surprisingly, the Democrats who now run the county government think the current system runs just fine.
During comments in front of the County Board on June 30, one of Tate's more unconventional ideas was that of "cumulative voting," in which voters get a certain number of votes to do with as they please.
For example, if three seats were up for election, a voter could choose to give all three of his or her votes to one candidate, or split them up in another way.
"It allows the voter to use their votes any way they want," Tate said. "It also allows voters, especially ethnic or political minorities, to 'bullet' their votes."
"This could help with political diversity in Arlington," Tate suggested. "It's been a while since we had any political balance on the board."
The last Republican on the County Board was Mike Lane, who served for seven months in 1999 after winning a special election to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Albert Eisenberg. Lane ran third in the general election in November 1999, losing to Democrats Paul Ferguson and Charles Monroe.
Ferguson said that cumulative voting is an idea that may be too radical to even be considered in Arlington.
"I appreciate Scott bringing ideas forward - it's always preferable to have an open discussion," Ferguson said. "However, my inclination is that this isn't something that's needed or that will be pursued."
"From my recollection of constitutional law, cumulative voting is usually something that's done to ensure racial balance," Ferguson added. "It's usually not done to ensure representation by a political party, which I'm sure is Scott's goal."
Ferguson also said that cumulative voting also would give voters "a chance to nominate someone with an extreme position, instead of someone who is more suited to the majority."
Other county officials were even less charitable about the concept.
"Cumulative voting defeats the 'one man, one vote' principle," said County Treasurer Frank O'Leary. "It's not just radical, but illegal. Has [Tate] read the Constitution lately?"
Tate, however, defended the proposal.
"It sounds radical, but it's not that unusual of an idea," he said. "It would give people a real chance to elect someone from their group or party, and possibly create healthier voter participation."
Tate said that even if cumulative voting isn't the answer, it's important for the county to consider alternatives.
"This is an issue that is important enough to have a county-led group look into the options," he said.
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.