Instant Runoff Voting increases voter turnout and saves both time and taxpayer dollars.
FACT: To elect mayor and city council members, Saint Paul holds a nonpartisan two-round election--the September primary and the November general election.
FACT: Less than 15% of registered voters turn out to the primary to choose which two candidates will make it to the general election!
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) brings:
* Better choice: By replacing the two-round election with one instant runoff election, IRV ensures candidates will not be eliminated in low-turnout primary elections. At the general election (when more people vote) ALL voters can choose from ALL the candidates.
* Better participation: Instant Runoff Voting encourages voter participation by increasing the variety and number of candidates on the ballot. Studies clearly show that Instant Runoff Voting increases voter participation.
* Better representation: Instant Runoff Voting assures fairer and more accurate representation of voters. Instant Runoff Voting provides results that better reflect the will of the voters. More people vote at general elections, so more voters get to choose who best represents them. Plus, Instant Runoff Voting empowers sincere voting--eliminating concern for vote wasting. Candidates will have a better idea about how many voters agree with their positions on the issues.
* Better campaigns: Instant Runoff Voting leads to more informative and positive campaigns. IRV brings more viewpoints into the debates and discourages negative campaigning. Candidates are better able to focus on the issues, so voters will be better informed. In 2006, voters in Minneapolis and three other US cities and counties elected overwhelmingly to update their voting systems with Instant Runoff Voting.
The movement for better voting has rapidly taken root across the country, with over 20 cities and counties now using or preparing to use Instant Runoff Voting. It is a sensible reform that is endorsed by the League of Woman Voters, the Star Tribune, Sierra Club and several other Minnesota organizations. We believe Instant Runoff Voting will eventually be the way all Minnesotans vote. But to get there, we need to show our lawmakers we are serious about wanting a better voting system.
Help us pass Instant Runoff Voting in Saint Paul.
For more info visit:
http://stpaul.betterballotcampaign.org/stpaul/home
http://www.fairvotemn.org/
