Encourage Douglas to Sign IRV Bill

Written by: Jessica Falker on Mar 14, 2008 2:49 PM EDT

IRV stands for Instant Runoff Voting. Here is a good explanation, using the Muppets, of how IRV works:

http://www.fairvote.org/irv/muppets/muppets.htm

Last year, the Vermont Senate passed a bill to use IRV in Vermont's election of our US Senators and US Representative. Yesterday, the Vermont House passed the Instant Runoff Bill by a vote of 81-60.  A comfortable margin, but not veto-proof. You can read the bill here:

 http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/senate/S-108.HTM

Please contact Gov. Douglas and encourage him to sign this bill (S.108):

- Phone: 802-828-3333
- Snail Mail: Governor Jim Douglas, 109 State Street, Pavilion, Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
- Through his website (less effective): http://governor.vermont.gov/contact.html 

Talking Points provided by the League of Women Voters:

1. Tell the governor that you want him to sign S.108 because you want majority winners in congressional elections. Existing election rules create a "spoiler" risk each time there are more than two candidates, where a split majority can mean a candidate that the majority prefer can be defeated by a candidate that only a minority of voters find acceptable. That isn't democracy.

2. It worked well in Burlington after he signed that first IRV bill; ask him to be consistent, and not flip-flop and veto this second IRV bill.

3. In 2002, as a result of the work of the League of Women Voters, 56 town meetings voted on the issue, and 53 of them urged adoption of IRV for statewide elections.

4. Presidential candidates Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama  have both advocated adoption of IRV. Please don't veto Vermont's chance to improve our democracy.

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Location: VT