FAIRVOTE MINNESOTA MEDIA ADVISORY

Decision Expected Soon in Instant Runoff Voting Case
Challenge to Voting Method Attracts National Audience

MINNEAPOLIS – (January 6, 2009) – Hennepin County District Judge George McGunnigle is expected to issue a decision soon in a closely watched challenge to instant runoff voting (IRV).  The case, Minnesota Voters Alliance v City of Minneapolis (27-cv-08-15), could affect the administration of Minneapolis’ 2009 elections and the acceptance of IRV as a way to improve the election process.

“This is an important case that will have an impact well beyond the Minneapolis city line,” said Jeanne Massey, executive director of FairVote Minnesota.  “IRV consolidates two-round runoffs and avoids plurality-take-all elections, like Minnesota’s still-pending Senate race, that are becoming increasingly commonplace and undermine voter confidence in Minnesota elections.  There’s great interest in improving elections and in strengthening our democratic processes; IRV does both.”

In 2006, Minneapolis voters approved the use of IRV by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, 65 percent to 35 percent.  Minnesota Voters Alliance v City of Minneapolis was filed in December 2007 to challenge implementation of the voting method. The Minnesota Voters’ Alliance is a small group of activists who support the return of partisan local elections and aim to block the use of IRV in Minneapolis and IRV campaign efforts in Saint Paul and elsewhere in Minnesota. FairVote Minnesota, a non-partisan advocacy group, intervened in the case to join Minneapolis as a co-defendant.

Massey and other FairVote Minnesota resources are available to reporters who want additional background on the pending decision and on IRV generally.  The organization maintains a website and media kit with a wealth of materials on the theory and practice of IRV.  See below for additional contact information.

For further information:

Jeanne Massey, executive director, FairVote Minnesota. 763-807-2550

Dakotah Johnson, coordinator, Better Ballot Campaign, FairVote Minnesota. 715-379-2541

Amy Brendmoen, communications coordinator, St. Paul Better Ballot Campaign. 651-492-8488

David Durenberger, chair, National Institute of Health Policy.

Prof. David Schultz, Hamline University. 651-523-2858