Support
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)
By
Rick VanWie, GPCO Election Reform Committee Chair
Democracy
needs your help!
When the United States was founded, Democracy was limited to property
owning white men. But through two centuries of organizing and struggle,
Democracy was expanded to include those originally left out -- including
women, Indian peoples, African-Americans, and non-property owners.
It's time to continue expanding Democracy.
Reform of the electoral process is part of the platform of the Green
Party of the United States. Over the past few months, the Election
Reform Committee of the Green Party of Colorado has been discussing
the possibility of implementing Instant Runoff Voting in Colorado.
IRV is a ranked system of voting. It allows voters to rank the candidates
on a ballot in order of preference. As the candidates are eliminated,
the voter's next choice is counted. This continues until one
candidate receives over 50% of the votes cast. For details, go to
the website of the Center for Voting and Democracy, www.fairvote.org.
IRV is advantageous in several ways:
1) It greatly diminishes the possibility of a "third party spoiler".
2) It expands Democracy by increasing the opportunity for "third"
parties to get into office.
3) It adds integrity to the voting system by encouraging voters to
vote for a candidate instead of against one.
We have recently received encouraging news that one State Senator
is willing to introduce legislation regarding IRV. There is a possibility
that at least one other Senator and one House Member would be willing
to promote legislation as well. Furthermore, Congressman Jesse Jackson,
Jr. has introduced IRV legislation in the United State Congress.
However, in order to get legislation on the floors of the Colorado
House of Representatives and the Colorado Senate, we need to build
a broad-based coalition of groups and individuals to promote the implementation
of IRV. Therefore, we are calling on all registered Greens in the
State of Colorado to assist with this effort. You don't have to wait
to hear from your local chapter to start work on this important issue.
The following are things that Green Party members and locals will
need to do in order to begin mobilizing people of all political stripes
across Colorado:
FIRST: Go to www.fairvote.org
to learn about the basics of IRV -- be sure to check out some of the
links. Print some literature that you can use and reference.
SECOND: Contact YOUR State Representative and State Senator. Tell
them that there is interest in changing the way Colorado votes. Discuss
IRV and refer them to www.fairvote.org.
THIRD: START MOBILIZING! Contact your Green Party local group and
tell them that you want to get started on Instant Runoff Voting. If
you are an elected official, begin mobilizing your constituents who
favor IRV. If you are not an elected official, but are a member of
social justice groups, faith-based organizations, nongovernmental
organizations, or any other group of like minded individuals that
may support IRV, then begin discussing election reform and the introduction
of IRV legislation. Ask these groups what they can do to support IRV
in Colorado. (Suggestion: have the groups convene a meeting about
IRV; have membership of groups contact their State legislators individually).
Reach out to other "third" parties and let them know that
we are mobilizing.
At the same time, find out about the interest in implementing IRV
in your city or county. Can the introduction of IRV in your community
save resources and money? This is an important part, as successful
implementation of IRV in our communities may contribute to state wide
implementation.
FOURTH: Contact me at stacey.rick@juno.com
and let me know who is supporting you. Is it your State Rep. or Senator?
Is a major activist, faith-based or other group ready to be active
around this issue?
Within the next two weeks, we will have drafted skeletal legislation
that can be used as a point of reference when talking with individuals,
other groups and political parties, as well as to your State Representative
and State Senator. This will be posted on a website that will contain
other useful information.
I hope that you can help us in the effort to continue expanding Democracy.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact
me.
Peace, Love and Understanding,
Rick VanWie
Chair, Green Party of Colorado Election Reform Committee
Co-Chair, Denver Green Party
303-478-1009
-------------
DENVER
CONTACTS:
The Denver Green Party
www.denvergreens.org
Denver Green Party
P.O. Box 48044
Denver, CO 80204
303-575-1631
Denver
Green Party Co-Chairs:
Lanny
Kness (720) 256-3532
Rick VanWie
Denver
Green Party Spokespersons:
Lanny
Kness (720) 256-3532
Bruce Meyer
Sunny Maynard (303) 758-7038
FORT
COLLINS CONTACTS:
Poudre Valley Greens
P.O. Box 1097
Fort Collins, CO 80522
info@pvgreens.org
COLORADO
CONTACTS:
www.coloradogreens.org
Green Party of Colorado
PO Box 13001
Denver, CO 80201
Green
Party of Colorado Spokespersons:
Bill McCormick, Grand Junction: bmccormick522@aol.com
970-242-9438
Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County: goodtimes@independence.net
office 970-728-3844
Scott Chaplin, Sopris: chaplin@sopris.net
(970) 963-3678
