Thanks Bill, I just clicked on the link and went to the "for-pay" section.
Thanks Aaron. I read the post quickly. My understanding is that the
Minneapolis law was challenged before the election, and survived State Supreme
Court scrutiny to be tried this fall (as it was) -- I assume that any issues
regarding conflict with state law were resolved as part of that process.
I've been in contact with Minneapolis Attorney Erick Kaardal, who I understand
represented the challengers to the Minneapolis RCV law -- we have discussed a
possible federal lawsuit challenging the City's refusal to allow me to file for
Mayor stating my political principle as "Moderate Progressive Republican". As
you may know, I served a complaint on the City regarding this, and am
considering a further challenge based on a demand that I pay a $320 filing fee
for a civil action to bring my issue regarding the political principle before a
judge. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I think Article I Sec. 8. of our
Minnesota Constitution means what it says (It says: REDRESS OF INJURIES OR
WRONGS. Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for all
injuries or wrongs which he may receive to his person, property or character,
and to obtain justice freely and without purchase, completely and without
denial, promptly and without delay, conformable to the laws.) I understand "to
obtain justice freely and without purchase" means, among other things, that if
the City attempts to censor me when I state my political principle as provided
for by the City Charter, I shouldn't have to pay $320 before coming before a
District Court Judge to determine if my fundamental Constitutional rights are
being violated.
I am impressed by Mr. Kaardal, but I have made clear to him that I am generally
supportive of "IRV", and I see RCV as a variant of that. While I have some
concerns with RCV, particularly with multi seat races, and with the practical
effects of the merger of the primary and general election, overall, I was
impressed by how well it went in Minneapolis this year. In my judgment, the
ability to not "throw away your vote" if you want to consider third party
and/or independent minded people more than offsets ALL the disadvantages of the
current implementation of RCV. In my own race, I was particularly heartened
that, while I only received about 200 first choice votes, a total of about
1,200 people voted for me for Mayor when you tabulate first, second, and third
choices.
Having said that, I think we should still consider more tinkering, to allow
partisan primaries for all 1%+ parties (DFL, Republican, Independent, Green),
and then to use ranked choice voting for the general election.
If partisan primaries are provided for, the General Election ballot should
automatically use the prefix "Endorsed:" followed by the party designation for
the party primary they won.
Additional suggestions:
People should be able to file in multiple partisan primaries for any party that
does not forbid this in their own rules;
RCV should be used for the partisan primaries;
For a candidate who wins more than one partisan primary, the General Election
ballot should follow the automatic prefix "Endorsed:" with a list of all
parties whose primary they won.
Regarding political principles, let's allow candidates to skip the primary, and
go to the General Election ballot, with the prefix "Political Principle:"
followed by any three words they choose. It would then be clear to voters who
is endorsed by one (or more) parties, and who chooses to run on a principle
(skipping all primary gauntlets).
Notice that with this system, candidates on a General Election ballot would be
either endorsed (by one or more parties), or would be running according to
their political principle. Wouldn't voters (and candidates) then have the
"best of all possible worlds"?
Rest of post
-- knowing who is endorsed
-- being able to show support for minor parties and/or independents
-- never "throwing away your vote"
-- being able to advance and advocate on the GE ballot for any principle
-- preventing parties from becoming "brands" (words that are part of a party
name can still be part of a political principle, identified as such).
So aren't you glad you asked?
Remember -- if you or someone you know needs a system of government organized
-- just go to republicancontract.com -- it's just one of the many services we
offer.
Bob Carney Jr.
(recently) Moderate Progressive Republican candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis
East Lake Harriet Farmstead