October 7, 2009

By, Carole Stanley Pelchat, Vice President and Program and Action Chair

Lotte E. Scharfman, a former President of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts once stated, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”  While we often quote Mrs. Scharfman in relation to citizen involvement in government, it could not be a more fitting sentiment in support of House bills 684 and 685 proposing Instant Runoff Voting.

The League concluded a two-year study of the subject in 2005, and adopted the position that voting systems should be easy to use, administer and understand; encourage high voter turnout; encourage real discussion on issues; promote minority representation; and encourage candidates to run.  In addition, when electing someone to a single executive office at the state level, such as governor or attorney general, including primary and general elections, the voting system should require the winner to obtain a majority of the votes. 

Voter turnout is consistently low in the majority of cities and towns throughout the state for most elections, with the exception of presidential races. Even for state offices such as governor and attorney general, voter participation is dismal. The current system of voting rewards the two-party system and does not encourage those citizens who may be candidates from other parties to run for office. When a voter feels that no real choices are offered or their candidate does not garner enough support to conclusively win an election, apathy and even disenfranchisement can dictate turnout at the polls. Instant Runoff Voting promotes healthy debate and participation from candidates with diverse points of view, because it encourages a challenge to the status quo. In the September 23, 2009 issue of the Boston Globe, reporters Donovan Slack and Michael Levenson interviewed voters throughout Boston and found, “Many who voted for Flaherty, Yoon, and McCrea said they were casting ballots not necessarily for one of those candidates, but against the status quo.” This is merely an example of how Instant Runoff Voting positively affects a citizen’s ability to state their true intent and to also hold elected officials accountable.

In Massachusetts more than two-thirds of legislative races are unopposed. While these bills address only statewide office elections, the reality is that only two parties and presumably two points of view on the issues are represented in all current elections. Instant Runoff Voting encourages individuals to run for office regardless of party affiliation and creates a varied, more engaging race for the voter. The choice of candidates is widened for the electorate, therefore reaching those voters who have different points of view. Since the candidate with the majority of votes is elected using Instant Runoff Voting, the will of the electorate is truly reflected in the candidate who receives the most votes.

The League is a non-partisan organization, which neither supports nor opposes candidates for office. There can be no better way than Instant Runoff Voting to promote participation by candidates from all political parties, affiliations and points of view. The basic right to be heard with a vote is reinforced by allowing voters to rank their choices on the ballot.

Those in opposition to any change in a voting system or method often assert that the proposed change will be too confusing to voters or too difficult to educate them on the ballot format. This is a dismissive and dangerous assertion. Voting systems have changed drastically over the course of our state and nation’s history, with advancements in technology and constitutional amendments. Yet citizens still managed to exercise their right to vote effectively and competently. One major portion of the League’s mission is, as it has been for 90 years, voter education. With each new development, whether it is technological or ideological, we succeed in effectively and successfully educating citizens on voting rights, rules and procedures. Requiring a re-education of the electorate is no excuse to ignore the value of these bills and the proposals therein.

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts strongly urges the Legislature to support Instant Runoff Voting, allowing the true voting intent of the citizens of the Commonwealth to be heard and counted. Instant Runoff Voting encourages healthy debate, increases voter engagement, and is paramount for the health of our democracy. Thank you for your time and consideration.