St. Paul Better Ballot Campaign

ACTION ALERT: Prevent Council Vote to Block IRV

ACTION ALERT

1. Attend the St. Paul City Council Meeting - JULY 2 AT 3:30 PM
2. Contact your Councilmember - IMMEDIATELY
3. Write LTE's

This Alert is primarily for our Saint Paul supporters, but we wanted to be sure and send to all and keep you updated on the latest for the Saint Paul Campaign.

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The Saint Paul City Council plans to vote this Wednesday, July 2, to block
citizens from voting on IRV this November. After collecting over 7,000
signatures of support, the petition has been certified to put IRV on the November ballot and we demand the Council honor our right for a citizen vote.

1. Attend the City Council meeting

What: Former councilmember and IRV supporter, Jay Benanav, will speak on our behalf. Lets fill the seats with IRV support!

Where: 15 Kellogg Blvd., Council Chambers, Third Floor City Hall

When: This Wednesday, July 2. The meeting starts 3:30PM, and the Council plans to vote on this before 4PM.

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2. Contact your councilmember to insist that they put IRV on the ballot this November as required by law.

Melvin Carter, Ward 1: 266-8610
Dave Thune, Ward 2: 266-8620
Pat Harris, Ward 3: 266-8630
Russ Stark, Ward 4: 266-8640
Lee Helgen, Ward 5: 266-8650
Dan Bostrom, Ward 6: 266-8660
Kathy Lantry, Ward 7: 266-8670

Key talking points

1) Uphold the rights of the St. Paul voters to petition their elected leaders for access to the ballot.

Five council members - Melvin Carter, Pat Harris, Russ Stark, Lee Helgen
and Kathy Lantry - all said they would not block IRV on the ballot if
the petition drive was successful. Russ Stark and Melvin Carter supported IRV during their campaigns in 2007.

Tell them not to go back on their word!

2) The City Attorney describes his opinion as his "best guess" and IRV is "morelikely than not" unconstitutional. He clearly does not make the case that IRV is "clearly" unconstitional. IRV has been upheld as constitutional in other states and has not been proven unconstitutional in Minnesota. The council does not have the legal authority to refuse placing IRV on the ballot based on "best guess" claims against the constitutionality of IRV.

3) President Lantry is quoted in the paper as saying cost of implementation
as a key reason she opposes IRV. This is another misleading argment against IRV. The cost of implementing IRV next year will NOT be $1.5 million and will NOT require new machines. The IRV election will be for only one race - the mayors race. First choices can be tallied with existing machines and the
runoff - if required - can be counted by hand. The process is simple and
very inexpensive.

4) Allow time for testimony at the meeting! More than 7,000 people signed a petition to put IRV on the ballot and we insist on the opportunity to speak to a resolution you will consider to denythe will of the voters.

5) Tell them why you are supporting IRV for Saint Paul:

* No more 5% turnout primaries
* More voter participation and choice on the ballot
* Ensures majority winners in one election -simpler, cheaper

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3. Write LTEs in response to articles and Op-eds:

Pioneer Press Op-ed: Petition was Sound, Council's Obligation is Clear: Let the People Vote

Star Tribune Editorial: Don't Block Vote on IRV in Saint Paul

Pioneer Press Op-ed: Council Must Let the People Vote

Daily Planet: IRV: Deard or alive?

Use the same talking points as above.

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Questions? Contact Dakotah Rae at dakotah@batterballotcampaign.org

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