IRV Continues Student Election Success

Many Top Universities Use IRV

The Spring 2007 student election season brought another successful round of IRV elections including Stanford's highest turnout student election ever. Recent elections at Duke and Rice also showcase IRV's success on college campuses. More than half of U.S. News and World Report's top 30 schools now use IRV and/or choice voting for their student elections.

FairVote has helped a number of these institutions make the transition to IRV and continues to help other universities improve their elections through efforts such as the development of online IRV software.

[ More about student elections using IRV ]
[ Coverage of Stanford's April IRV election ]
[ Coverage of Duke's April IRV election ]
[ Coverage of Rice's March IRV election ]

Overwhelming Victory for Ranked Ballots in Springfield

Legislation Authorizing IRV for Overseas Voters Also Passes Committee in California

On April 17th 2007, voters in Springfield, IL, approved with 91% of the vote a referendum implementing ranked ballots for overseas absentee voters in local elections. This change ensures men and women in uniform will not be disenfranchised in local elections due to the short time between primary and general elections.

The California Assembly Elections Committee also explored the ranked ballot solution to ensure overseas voters have their votes counted in runoff elections. It approved AB 1662, which authorizes ranked ballots for overseas voters, and AB 1294, which gives local governments the option of using IRV for local elections.

[ Why IRV is needed for overseas absentee voters ]
[ More about the Springfield campaign at www.IncludeEveryVoter.org ]

SCOTUS Will Hear Washington Top-two Primary Case

U.S. Supreme Court to Rule on Constitutionality of Two-round Primary

Washington state's top-two primary litigation is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justices agreed to take on the case, which explores whether a voter-approved top-two system violates party free association and free speech rights.

Under top-two, the two highest vote-getters advance to a second runoff round regardless of party affiliation. A federal court in 2005 threw the system out on grounds it violated the parties' rights to free association.

FairVote entered the case in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals as amicus curiae, arguing that the parties were in danger of seeking an overly broad ruling given that they were unaware of the instant runoff alternative.

[ Read the FairVote brief ]