Push to get instant runoff on St. Paul ballot nears goal

07/26/2007

Proponents of the proposal say they have nearly enough signatures to get the issue on this fall's ballot, but some say 2008 might be better year.


By Myron P. Medcalf,
Star Tribune
July 25, 2007


Proponents of instant runoff voting for St. Paul municipal elections need a few more signatures before voters get the chance to OK their idea.
With 4,500 signatures -- 5,098 are needed -- volunteers with the St. Paul Better Ballot Campaign hope to push forward and make the Aug. 14 deadline for submitting the signatures to the Ramsey County elections office, if they want the issue on the November ballot.

St. Paul's mayor and council members are currently elected through primary and general elections. Instant runoff voting would eliminate the primary and voters would rank candidates.

Amy Brendmoen, a volunteer with the Better Ballot Campaign, said the system would allow more candidates to reach the election where more people are voting. Far fewer voters turn out for primary elections.

The details of the proposal haven't been worked out. But under one system, if four candidates ran for one council seat and no one got a majority of the votes, a vote for the fourth-place candidate would be reassigned to a voter's second choice. The candidate ending up with a majority of votes would win.

Advocates of the system may aim for 2008 to make their push.

They would use the time in between to educate the public about the voting system, capitalizing on the emphasis on politics in a presidential election year and as the host city of the Republican National Convention, said Brendmoen.

"People are interested and they're excited to know that there's an election reform effort being made that isn't necessarily out there to benefit a candidate or a party but more to benefit voters and to stimulate elections," she said.

Ellen Biales, aide to Council President Kathy Lantry, said there would be costs associated with moving to a new system and acquiring certified equipment to tally the votes.

Minneapolis, where instant runoff voting could be implemented as early as 2009, barring legal challenges, will have to spend up to $1.4 million for new equipment.

Council Member Dan Bostrom said he's not sure that instant runoff voting is better than the current system. Bostrom faces one opponent, Pakou Hang, so a primary won't be necessary in his ward this year.

"I'm mulling any advantages it might offer," he said. "They haven't been pointed out to me."