Comments on: Vermont Instant-Runoff Bill Likely to Advance in Early February http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:42:55 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bob Richard http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/comment-page-1/#comment-215100 Bob Richard Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:47:58 +0000 http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/#comment-215100 As usual, Richard is correct. See <a href="http://www.fairvote.org/irv/vt_lite/history.htm" rel="nofollow">FairVote's history</a>: <blockquote>In the United States, IRV election laws were first adopted in 1912. Four states -- Florida, Indiana, Maryland, and Minnesota -- used versions of IRV for party primaries. Seven other states, used a different version of preference voting known as the Bucklin system. ... Of the four states with IRV, only the Maryland law used the standard IRV sequential elimination of bottom candidates, while the others used batch elimination of all but the top two candidates.</blockquote> As usual, Richard is correct. See FairVote’s history:

In the United States, IRV election laws were first adopted in 1912. Four states — Florida, Indiana, Maryland, and Minnesota — used versions of IRV for party primaries. Seven other states, used a different version of preference voting known as the Bucklin system. … Of the four states with IRV, only the Maryland law used the standard IRV sequential elimination of bottom candidates, while the others used batch elimination of all but the top two candidates.

]]> By: David Weller http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/comment-page-1/#comment-214942 David Weller Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:37:59 +0000 http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/#comment-214942 If it does pass, it will be an historic example for other states to observe and maybe follow. If it does pass, it will be an historic example for other states to observe and maybe follow.

]]> By: Richard http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/comment-page-1/#comment-214251 Richard Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:29:34 +0000 http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/#comment-214251 How about Florida in the 1900's and 1910's decade? How about Florida in the 1900’s and 1910’s decade?

]]> By: Bob Richard http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/comment-page-1/#comment-214183 Bob Richard Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:09:10 +0000 http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/24/vermont-instant-runoff-bill-likely-to-advance-in-early-february/#comment-214183 <em>IRV was used long ago in a few states for statewide primaries.</em> I'm not sure about this. The Bucklin system was used briefly for a few statewide primaries and local offices in a few cities. But Bucklin is not IRV, even though it's based on a rank-the-candidates-in-order-preference ballot. Specifically, your second choice vote can hurt the chances of your first choice candidate. The only historical use of single-winner IRV in the U.S. that I'm aware of is Ann Arbor in 1975 or 1976. IRV was used long ago in a few states for statewide primaries.

I’m not sure about this. The Bucklin system was used briefly for a few statewide primaries and local offices in a few cities. But Bucklin is not IRV, even though it’s based on a rank-the-candidates-in-order-preference ballot. Specifically, your second choice vote can hurt the chances of your first choice candidate.

The only historical use of single-winner IRV in the U.S. that I’m aware of is Ann Arbor in 1975 or 1976.

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