(AP) DENVER Hoping to take some of the sting out of politics, a legislative task force is studying how to ratchet down the rhetoric and give minor parties a bigger role in Colorado politics.

State Rep. John Kefalas said recent campaigns have been so bitter they have driven voters away. The Fort Collins Democrat told the task force that voters often end up casting ballots for major-party candidates when they want to vote for unaffiliated or minor-party candidates.

Recommendations on the table include instant runoff voting, where voters pick their first choice for a candidate but also list their second, third and fourth choices.

Under another plan, candidates would get on the ballot by gathering a minimum number of signatures.