IRV REPEALED

People of Burlington have told the politicians how we want to vote, and it is NOT by instant runoff. We want real runoffs, and will defend the 40% threshold to protect minority rights.

Congratulations! Many have been cheering you on from afar. Some of us are fighting this unfair voting method in our own back yard.

I've been studying IRV since FairVote tried to insert an amendment into our paper ballot law back in 2004/2005. That amendment could have killed our bill and then my state would still be voting on paperless voting machines.

Yours is a true David v Goliath battle and you won. You beat the outside money and the undue political influence foisted on your city. You refused to be cowed.

And I know the intimidation that had to have come your way.

IRV is just plain bad for voters and also terribly bad for election transparency. It also causes votes to be thrown away, something I deplore!

Well done, you fought a good fight, and those of us still battling on will learn from your efforts and success. 

 Thanks, Joyce. IRV has hit the wall. Being charmed by it ideologically is quite different from experiencing how it twists the results of an election. Heavy IRV endorsements by major political figures -- "you have the power" Dean was robo-calling local voters, McCain/Dean/Sanders were glaring down on folks from an ad that looked like WANTED posters in the Post Office, City Councilors and legislators were signing on to pro-IRV flyers -- but the people voted conscience, without fear or favor, and we told the politicians how we want to vote.