The effort in Minnesota to implement majority rule reform: the instant runoff. This simple change to our voting system requires the winner of an election to earn more than 50% of the vote. Voters get to rank their candidates, ending the talk of 'spoilers' or 'wasted votes.' If no one gets a majority of first place votes (a president hasn't done that since the 1980s), the losing candidate is eliminated, and like a runoff election, his supporters choose their second-choice candidate. This process of instant runoffs continues until one candidate earns a majority. Used in Ireland and Australia, the instant runoff will avoid the chaos of the 2000 presidential election and ensure our elected officials have the broadest amount of support.

Advocates from this group promoted a bill in the Minnesota legislature in 2004 that would have allowed the Roseville City Council to choose Instant Runoff for a special election to replace a council member. The bill failed in the House. Click on the Files and Links to listen to the legislative debate, see sample ballots and bills, and learn more about IRV.