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WPTZ-TV
Legislature Might Be Making Election
Decisions
October 29, 2002
Who will make the final decision is taking center
stage in some races. In Vermont, the Lieutenant Governor's race
looks destined to be decided not in the voting booth but in the
state house. A NewsChannel 5-Burlington Free Press poll shows the
three candidates in a statistical dead heat. Republican Brian Dubie
has a slight lead with 30 percent. Democrat Peter Shumlin and
Progressive Anthony Pollina are right on his heels. Under Vermont
law if no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote, the legislature
makes the final decision. Voters say they want the legislature to
follow their lead. "I think out of fairness, the person who gets
the most popular votes," said voter Mickey Cobb. "I think whoever
gets the most votes out to be the one who wins the election, it
seems pretty clear to me that's how it ought to go," voter Debbie
Gameron said. Dubie said the debate reminds him of his Little
League coaching days when players wanted to change the rules
mid-game. "We've got a Constitution that is the rule book for the
way elections are conducted in our state. It's been in place for 225
years for those who want to change the rules in this election cycle,
I say, 'Hey, you've got to change the constitution to do that,'"
Dubie said. Pollina said changing the Constitution is exactly what
the Legislature should do after the election. "I think we need to
move away from that system, we need to institute instant runoff
voting, or other changes in state law, that would guarantee voters
that their vote is going to count. And this year, I think the
legislature should elect the person who has the most votes," Pollina
said. Shumlin said if he doesn't win the most votes he will step
aside. "I don't want to serve as Lt. Governor of the state of
Vermont unless I get the most votes. If I have one vote less than
any one of my opponents, I don't want to serve. And I can't believe
anyone would," Shumlin said. With the campaign as the backdrop,
experts say there is a good chance election reform will be an issue
in the next legislative session. |
