-Caveat Lector- http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/12.04D.irv.12.03.02.htm
(*Editors Note | Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) has the potential to fundamentally change American political landscape -- for the better. The painful lesson learned during the 2000 election is that you can vote for what you want, and sadly empower what you don't want. At the same time new blood is desperately needed in American politics. So how can a new path be forged without fear of empowering the very policies that are causing the problem? IRV. With IRV you can vote for whatever candidate you like "and" backup candidates at the same time. So that, if your first choice does not win your second choice gets the vote. The gamble of voting for an alternative candidate is eliminated. Below is a breakdown of how it works. -- ma.) Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) A Fairer Way to Conduct Single-Winner Elections by the Center for Voting and Democracy Most U.S. elections are held under plurality voting rules in which the candidate with the most votes wins. If three or more candidates run in the race, then the winner can have less than a majority of the vote. But the question always arises: was that winning candidate really preferred by most voters? Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a sensible reform for elections where one person wins. Examples include elections for governors, mayors, legislatures using single-seat districts, and US president (for allocation of Electoral College electors). Instant Runoff Voting is better than plurality elections because: * It ensures the election of the candidate preferred by most voters * It eliminates the problem of spoiler candidates knocking off major candidates * It frees communities of voters from splitting their vote among their own candidates * It promotes coalition-building and more positive campaigning IRV is also better than "two- round" runoff or primary elections, which often result in a change in voter turnout between the two rounds. IRV finishes the job with one election, which means that * Election officials and taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for a second election * Candidates don't have to raise money for two races, providing some campaign finance reform * The decisive election occurs when voter turnout is highest How IRV Works: Each voter has one vote, and ranks candidates in order of choice (1, 2, 3, etc.). The counting of ballots simulates a series of run-off elections. All first choices are counted, and if no candidate wins a majority of first choices, then the last place candidate (candidate with the least first-choices) is eliminated. Ballots of voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first then are redistributed to their next-choice candidates, as indicated on each voter's ballot. Last place candidates are successively eliminated and ballots are redistributed to next choices until one candidate remains or a candidate gains over 50% of votes. Voters have the option to rank as many or as few candidates as they wish--their favorite candidate first, their next favorite second and so on. Voters have every incentive to vote for their favorite candidate rather than the "lesser of two evils" because their ballot can still count toward a winner if their first choice loses. There also is every reason for a voter to rank as many candidates as they want, since a voter's lower choice will never help defeat one of their higher choices. IRV is used to elect the parliament in Australia and the presidents of the Republic of Ireland and the American Political Science Association. A related method is used in Cambridge (MA) for city council. Example: In both 1992 and 1996, Bill Clinton was elected president with less than 50% of the popular vote. IRV could been used to elect a majority-winner. Here's how it could have worked. The 1992 Presidential Election--a Simulation Candidate First Choice % Ballots redistributed to 2nd choice Final Tally The 1992 Presidential Election -- a Simulation Candidate First Choice % -- Ballots redistributed to 2nd choices -- Final Tally George Bush 38% +10% = 48% Bill Clinton 43% +9% = 52% Ross Perot 19% - 19% X Assume that, of the 19 percent of voters who ranked Ross Perot first, slightly more than half (e.g. 10% of all voters) ranked George Bush second on their ballots, and slightly less than half (e.g. 9% of all voters) ranked Bill Clinton second. When Ross Perot is eliminated, those votes are redistributed. Bill Clinton ends up with 52 percent of the overall vote, a clear majority, and is declared the winner. For more information about how you can help make IRV a reality visit : http://www.voice4change.org/stories/ showstory.asp?file=021202~v4c.asp © : t r u t h o u t 2002 | t r u t h o u t | forum | issues | editorial | letters | donate | contact | | voting rights | environment | budget | children | politics | indigenous survival | |energy | | defense | health | economy | human rights | labor | trade | women | reform | global | <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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