The Vermont House did pass S.108 (Vermont's instant runoff voting bill that originated in the Senate last year), and, as expected, Governor Douglas choose to veto it.

As I write this we're still awaiting a decision on a veto override attempt, but a successful outcome seems a dubious proposition. I'm going to rely on one thing: as a prognosticator I'm generally a miserable failure.

I'll post when I hear more.

In the meantime this blog will be going formally dormant. It will stay up mostly because there is a wealth of good information on the pages within. A good place to start is with the links on the right side as you scroll down.

Please let me know if you or your organization have any IRV related news you/it would like cross posted here. I'll be happy to oblige in most circumstances.

April 4, 2008

The Honorable David A. Gibson Secretary of the Senate State House 115 State St., Drawer 33 Montpelier, VT 05633

Dear Mr. Secretary:

Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution, I am returning S. 108, An Act Relating to the Election of U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator by the Instant Runoff Voting Method, without my signature because of objections described herein. There are serious flaws with this proposal to alter Vermont’s system of elections. This system has served the people of Vermont well for more than 200 years and is one I had the privilege of administering for a dozen years as Secretary of State. This bill circumvents the fundamental democratic principle of one person, one vote. That is entirely unacceptable. The authors of our Constitution applied this standard – compelling each voter to choose the candidate for each office that she or he deems most qualified – to ensure that elections are in fact a clear choice.

(Governor's website)

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