IRV in the News
Oakland Tribune: Time to Implement Instant Runoff Voting
Published November 18, 2009
Community leaders question the delay in implementing IRV in Oakland and Berkeley in this opinion piece.
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The Oregonian: Better and Cheaper Elections for Vancouver
Published November 6, 2009
New America's Blair Bobier proposes that Vancouver, Washington use Instant Runoff Voting as an antidote for runaway campaign spending.
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Star Tribune: Success for Ranked Choice
Published November 4, 2009
Minneapolis' first ranked choice voting election went very smoothly with no reported problems.
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Pioneer Press: St. Paul Follows in Footsteps of its Neighboor
Published November 4, 2009
Both of Minnesota's Twin Cities will now use ranked choice, or instant runoff, voting.
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Minnesota Public Radio: IRV Offers St. Paul a Chance to Shift Power Away from Special Interests
Published October 29, 2009
In this commentary, former U.S. Senator David Durenberger and former Minnesota Senator John Hottinger say that IRV is a more fair and democratic voting method.
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Star Tribune: The Case for Instant Runoff Voting is Clear
Published October 29, 2009
Two former mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul list a number of ways in which IRV can improve elections.
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Times-News: New Type of Voting is No Threat
Published October 29, 2009
This well-researched and thoughtful editorial from North Carolina says that "saving taxpayers money and avoiding expensive runoff elections with dismally low turnout is a good thing."
Star Tribune: St. Paul Should Join IRV Bandwagon
Published October 22, 2009
The Star Tribune calls on St. Paul to adopt instant runoff voting.
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Seattle Times: Pierce County Voters Should Keep Ranked-Choice Voting
Published October 18, 2009
The Seattle Times recommends a No vote on Pierce County Charter Amendment 3, which would repeal ranked-choice voting (instant runoff voting).
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Huffington Post: British prime minister pledges national referendum on instant runoff voting - Poll shows support
Published October 11, 2009
British prime minister Gordon Brown recently made a commitment to a national referendum on instant runoff voting for future elections to the House of Commons.
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New York Times: In New York's Primary Runoff, Record-Low Turnout Fuels Call for Change
Published October 7, 2009
Due to record low turnout, New York City public advocate and comptroller offices were voted in by less than 2 percent of all New Yorkers. IRV would have saved New York time and money.
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Times of Trenton: Time to Consider Instant Runoff Voting
Published October 5, 2009
IRV would prevent a potential spoiler in New Jersey's upcoming governor's race.
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New York Times: Senate Bill Would Eliminate Primary Runoff
Published October 5, 2009
In both election races for NYC comptroller and public advocate, the top vote-getter in the primary won the runoff two weeks later. This unnecessary runoff election cost taxpayers $72 per vote.
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Press-Telegram: Instant Runoff Voting could Streamline Long Beach Balloting Process
Published October 3, 2009
Instant Runoff Voting could ensure majority wins in a single election and would save the cash-strapped city millions of dollars.
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Long Beach Business Journal: Instant Runoff: The Vote of the Future?
Published October 1, 2009
IRV would have saved Long Beach over $1.3 million in 2006 by eliminating the need for an additional runoff election.
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Post-Bulletin: Advocates Tout Benefits of Instant Runoffs
Published September 25, 2009
Support for instant runoff voting is building in Minneapolis.
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USA Today: Like Hollywood, U.S. Should Update Its Voting System
Published September 23, 2009
The United States should take a hint from Hollywood and update its winner take all voting method to instant runoff voting.
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Star Tribune: Making the Case for IRV
Published September 16, 2009
With a 5% turnout for St. Paul's primary election, perhaps it is time for them to consider instant runoff voting.
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Seattle Times: A Better Election Alternative for King County: Ranked-Choice Voting
Published September 8, 2009
King County voters could learn from the experience of their neighbors in Pierce County, who have embraced IRV.
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Pioneer Press: How About a Side of Instant Runoff Voting?
Published September 7, 2009
Restaurants and cafes in St. Paul are hosting "tasting trials" to educate St. Paul voters about instant runoff voting.
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Huffington Post: And the Oscar for Best Voting System Goes to ... Instant Runoff Voting
Published September 2, 2009
The Academy announced that its Best Picture award will be determined by using Instant Runoff Voting.
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Long Beach Press Telegram: Long Beach Budget Meeting a Taste of Tough Decisions to Come
Published August 31, 2009
City Clerk Larry Herrera estimates the city will save $3.72 million over an 8 year election cycle by using instant runoff elections.
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Minnesota Public Radio: Ranked Choice Voting a Better Fit for Today's Elections
Published July 24, 2009
The Director of FairVote Minnesota, Jeanne Massey, explains how IRV could improve elections in her state.
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Richmond Times Dispatch: It's Time to Bring Majority Rule to the American Election Process
Published July 5, 2009
New America's Blair Bobier examines how IRV would have impacted Virginia's gubernatorial primary.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune: St. Paul Voters to get Instant Runoff Question in November
Published June 24, 2009
St. Paul, Minnesota, will vote this November whether to adopt IRV for local elections.
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San Jose Mercury News: San Jose Considers Major Change to Local Elections
Published June 12, 2009
Two San Jose city council members express support for Instant Runoff Voting at a New America-sponsored public forum.
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St. Paul Pioneer Press: Instant Runoff Voting Cleared by High Court
Published June 11, 2009
The Minnesota Supreme Court supports IRV in a unanimous decision, paving the way for its use by Minneapolis. Other Minnesota cities are likely to follow suit.
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Los Angeles Daily Breeze: Instant Runoffs Would Reduce Election Costs
Published June 8, 2009
Assembly member Ted Lieu and New America's Gautum Dutta look at the extraordinary costs of special election runoffs in Southern California.
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Aspen Times: Audit of Aspen's Election Shows No Holes in System
Published May 8, 2009
Aspen's first IRV election holds up under the scrutiny of a rigorous post-election audit.
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The Olympian: Youth Legislature Uses IRV
Published May 3, 2009
The Washington State Youth Legislature, in it's 62nd session, will use instant runoff voting for the first time, the result of legislation introduced by the current Youth Governor.
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Los Angeles Times: L.A. County to Study Using Instant Runoff Elections
Published March 31, 2009
The Los Angeles County Supervisors have voted unanimously to study IRV as a solution to their expensive, no-show special elections.
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Los Angeles Daily News: Mark Ridley-Thomas Calls for Instant Runoff System
Published March 31, 2009
The Courage Campaign joins L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in a call for instant runoff voting.
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Los Angeles Daily News: Let's Start Instant Runoffs and Cut our Election Costs
Published March 10, 2009
L.A. City Councilor Jose Huizar advocates for instant runoff voting as a way to "substantially cut election costs and reduce voter fatigure."
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San Jose Mercury News: A Cheaper, Quicker, More Civil Way to run San Jose Elections
Published March 7, 2009
New America's Blair Bobier looks at how IRV could improve elections in San Jose.
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Common Dreams: Broken Elections
Published March 7, 2009
Blair Bobier, Deputy Director of the Political Reform Program, assesses the abysmal voter turnout of L.A.'s mayoral election and suggests that IRV would boost voter participation while saving the city millions of dollars.
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Chicago Tribune: Instant Democracy Available in Instant Runoff
Published March 2, 2009
Columnist Eric Zorn takes a comprehensive look at instant runoff elections and how it can produce a more democratic result for a special election with a crowded field of candidates.
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Burlington Free Press: City Voters Fortunate to have IRV
Published March 2, 2009
Vee Gordon, legislative chairwoman of the Vermont League of Women Voters, says that IRV is proving its worth in the current mayoral campaign in Burlington.
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WCAX TV News: Burlington Politics More Civil These Days
Published March 1, 2009
The use of Instant Runoff Voting has led to more civil campaigns in Burlington, Vermont, according to this news report.
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Los Angeles Times: Instant Runoff Voting and the community colleges
Published February 11, 2009
In this on-line posting, Robert Greene discusses how IRV could improve local elections, and cites a New America Foundation report.
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San Leandro Daily Review: Election rule changes could save money, city clerk says
Published February 7, 2009
Switching to IRV would save San Leandro tens of thousands of dollars, according to the city clerk.
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Rochester Post-Bulletin: The U.S. is ready for election reform
Published February 3, 2009
The former editor and publisher of the Post-Bulletin lists IRV as one of four essential electoral reforms.
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Sacramento Bee: Test raises caution flag on top two primary
Published January 31, 2009
New America's Steven Hill compares IRV to the top two primary.
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Duluth News Tribune: Pondering the merits of instant-runoff voting
Published January 29, 2009
Minnesota columnist Virgil Swing considers instant runoff voting and decides that it is worth a try.
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Long Beach Press-Telegram: `Instant runoff' vote forum topic
Published January 17, 2009
News article about an upcoming forum to discuss whether the city of Long Beach should use IRV to avoid costly, two round runoff elections.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune: Instant-runoff voting wins a round
Published January 14, 2009
A Minnesota court has decisively rejected a slew of challenges to instant runoff voting.
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