In the first ever statewide ballot measure for Instant
Runoff Voting, proponents came up short August 27, as Alaska voters turned their
thumbs down on Ballot Measure 1 by a 64 percent to 36 percent margin. Opponents
prevailed with arguments that IRV is not easy to grasp and there had not been
enough public education and debate on the proposal. The current system is good
enough, according to the opponents, who found no compelling need for IRV.

There were also specious claims that by allowing voters to
rank candidates, IRV violates the one-person, one-vote principle. Though not
true and in fact refuted by courts of law, the charge counted as a strike
against IRV among voters who had little opportunity to become acquainted with
the concept.

Perhaps the greatest strike against the ballot measure was
that it became tainted by partisanship. Conservatives largely lined up for it,
while liberals mostly took up defensive positions against it. What should have
been regarded as a good government reform was taken captive by partisan forces,
undercutting trust in the central purpose of the reform proposal.

The Alaska result is in some ways an affirmation of the
educational mission of FairVote Minnesota, which has urged public education and
use in nongovernmental elections as important preparatory steps for successful
adoption for public elections. Implementing alternative voting methods in home
rule localities may also be an important preliminary to statewide adoption.

One bright spot in the Alaska campaign was the endorsement
and support from Senator John McCain, a leading national political figure. Look
for more leadership from him on this subject in the future. You can hear his
recorded message to Alaska voters at

http://www.fairvote.org/irv/mccain.wav.

News reports on the election results

“Instant Runoff Voting falls short in Alaska,� Center for
Voting and Democracy, August 28, 2002.

http://www.fairvote.org/press/alaska.htm

“Voters reject instant runoff system,� by Tom Curry, MSNBC,
August 28, 2002.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/800049.asp?0dm=C21AN

“Preferential voting suffers solid defeat,� Rachel D’Oro,
Associated Press, published in Anchorage Daily News, August 28, 2002.

http://www.adn.com/front/story/1678169p-1794934c.html

Opinions, editorials & news reports leading up to the vote

Juneau Empire editorial says yes to IRV: “Instant
runoff voting pros outweigh cons,� Juneau Empire, August 25, 2002.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/082502/opi_edboard.shtml

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner editorial says Alaska
needs more debate and study of IRV: “A matter of preference,� Fairbanks Daily
News-Miner, August 25, 2002.

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113%257E7252%257E819317,00.html

Anchorage Daily News editorial says current
two-round runoffs are good enough: “Instant runoff? No – Ballot Measure 1: a
solution in search of a problem,� Anchorage Daily News, August 25, 2002.
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/1662296p-1779152c.html

“Voters in Alaska to decide on instant runoffs,� Associated
Press, Star Tribune, August 25, 2002.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/3187490.html

“Instant runoff ballots work, mates,� Dr. Benjamin Reilly,
Anchorage Daily News, August 24, 2002.

An Australian political science professor goes fishing in
Alaska and talks with the residents about his own country’s experience with
Instant Runoff Voting.

http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/1655082p-1771973c.html