City of Sarasota to Place Instant Runoff Voting on the Ballot

[MH1]

Just read this from an IRV group that I belong to and thought FL folks here might be interested:

(posted Jan 3, 2007 )

The Coalition for Instant Runoff Voting in Florida (CIRV) has turned in <>3225 valid signatures to the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections' office as of today. Sarasota's antiquated and expensive runoff election system will be revolutionized at the next special election in November. Voters will decide if they want to keep the $37,000 runoff, or try out a new and innovative Instant Runoff Voting system that is reputed to increase voter turnout, reduce negative campaigning, and eliminate the spoiler effect of candidates with minority support.

After three long years, and two attempts to convince the Sarasota City Commission to adopt the charter ammendment via referendum, one previously failed initiative attempt that gathered 1440 valid signatures, a citation from police officers of a petitioner, three trespass warrants, and a pending lawsuit from Publix, the CIRV has emerged victorious. This initiative places Sarasota in a league with other cities that have already voted to improve their antiquated election systems as well, such as San
Francisco, Burlington (VT), Oakland (CA), Ferndale (MI), Pierce (WA), Minneapolis, Takoma Park (MD), and Cambridge (MA). Sarasota will be the first Florida city to try this method when the voters approve it in November.

Tonight, at 6 P.M., CIRV officially present the initiative to the city commission. They then have 30 days to develop ballot language, and then after 90 days they are required to place the initiative language on the ballot.

If you don't know what Instant Runoff Voting is, visit this link and get educated <http://www.cirv.org <http://www.cirv.org>>! ( www.cirv.org ) {ed. note: Warning: audio begins when you access the site.}

Congratulations to everyone who worked on this project. For all press and media inquiries, please contact me below. A lot of people contributed a little bit in this campaign. Fairvote contributed a lot, as did Arenza Thigpen.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Viva La Revolucion!


Anthony Lorenzo
xxx-xxx-xxxx
Chair, Coalition for Instant Runoff Voting in FL
www.cirv.org

More info on IRV can be found here: http://www.fairvote.org/?page=19