November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

Making Every Vote Count

(Page 2 of 2)

May / June 2003
Leif Utne Utne magazine 
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The other watershed for IRV advocates was a 1999 report commissioned by the Vermont legislature that strongly endorsed IRV for statewide and legislative races. The report points out that, ironically, the public campaign financing laws that many states have adopted recently have drawn more candidates into the field, increasing the likelihood of split votes with nonmajority winners. While fixing that problem is the primary reason for the commission?s endorsement of IRV, the report lists numerous other IRV benefits, including a decline in ?tactical? (as opposed to ?sincere?) voting, fewer ?wasted? votes, and less negative campaigning.

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Vermont is expected to adopt IRV by the end of its 2003?04 legislative session. Meanwhile, IRV advocates in Massachusetts are gearing up for a ballot initiative campaign, and San Francisco?s upcoming municipal election will be the first big-city election in decades to use IRV. If it goes well, IRV soon may be coming to a polling place near you.

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