The Burlington Free Press of March 25 editorializes against against SB 108, which implements Instant-Runoff Voting for both Houses of Congress. See the editorial here.
The editorial pokes fun at the bill because it only applies to congressional races. The editorial points out that it is rare for anyone to fail to get a majority for Congress in Vermont anyway. Of course, the reason the bill is limited to Congress is (1) it is easier to implement something new if it is limited; (2) changing to IRV for statewide state office would probably require changing the Vermont Constitution. The editorial doesn’t mention either of these points.
The editorial points out that it is rare for anyone to fail to get a majority for Congress in Vermont anyway.
That’s usually due to limited ballot access for minor party/independent candidates and the wasted vote fallacy.
Actually, Vermont has very tolerant ballot access for minor party and independent candidates. An independent candidate for Congress only needs 250 signatures; and a new party can get on by being organized in 10 towns.
Many Vermonters do believe IRV is legal for governor and other state constitutional offices — but the attorney general’s advisory opinion suggesting otherwise has made it contentious. There also is a sense that starting with one or two statewide IRV races a year would be a reasonable start to using the system.
The editorial of course is very lame. The writer did not deign to have much, if any communication with advocates. When you write in a vacuum, it can show.
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