On June 4, 2010 the New York State Senate approved The Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) pilot program bill S3584B and a companion bill will be presented and is expected to be approved by the Assembly. The bill is not a mandate to enact IRV, but would allow all levels of government in the state to run pilot IRV elections. Election reform advocates point to this change as a major opportunity for small party candidates to exercise more influence at the polls.
On January 5, 2011 five New York Assembly members introduced A582. It provides for Instant Runoff Voting in New York city partisan primaries, and repeals the existing provision that requires run-off primaries several weeks after the first primary, if no one gets a majority. Also, seven New York State Senators have introduced S421, which would let any county or city use Instant Runoff Voting for its own local elections. The bill pertains to both general elections and partisan primaries.
I would like to see combining IRV with Open Primaries/Top Two.
What do you think of this idea?
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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2 comments:
Top-two, in practice, in Louisiana and Washington state, means that only Democrats and Republicans can campaign in the summer and fall campaign season. Why would any independent voter think that is a good idea?
I'm with Richard. IRV is a fantastic idea, and I'm happy NY is going to give some pilots a try to see how they play out and if people like it, but limiting access to the general election ballot is just plain wrong.
Solomon Kleinsmith
Rise of the Center
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