Measure to overhaul municipal races passes

Used in San Francisco, the system eliminates primary contests in most cases, and lets voters rank their selections.

By Terry Collins, Star Tribune

Last update: November 8, 2006 - 12:28 AM

Voters in Minneapolis tossed out years of tradition by adopting a new voting system for local elections, a historic change that supporters said would increase voter participation.

With more than 93 percent of the precincts reporting, city voters approved by nearly a 2-to-1 ratio a charter amendment for instant-runoff voting, a system used in San Francisco and two other U.S. cities.

"It clearly shows that Minneapolis is ready to take the next step toward democracy," said Jeanne Massey, lead coordinator for the Minneapolis Better Ballot Campaign.

The election system eliminates primary elections for most municipal contests and allows voters to rank their choices for office, instead of choosing a single candidate.

In some elections, voters' second or third choices could help push candidates to victory.

The new system would affect elections for mayor, City Council, Park and Recreation Board, Library Board and Board of Estimate and Taxation. It could be used as early as 2009.

Local supporters say the system eliminates costly primaries in those races, and focuses on more issue-oriented campaigning. Opponents said it allows fringe candidates an enormous influence in elections.

"This result is indicative of a totally disenfranchised and alienated electorate," said Andy Cilek, head of the Minnesota Voters Alliance, whose group opposed the measure.

City officials have estimated that it would cost Minneapolis about $1.8 million to implement the system. The voting process was endorsed by Mayor R.T. Rybak and a majority of the City Council.

Rybak said voter support Tuesday resulted from "a tremendous grass-roots effort" showing "this city will accept change, if presented well."

Terry Collins • tcollins@startribune.com

Comment on this story | Read all 0 comments | Hide reader comments

Blog: The Big Question

Health groups wary of Ramstad for ‘drug czar’

Two weeks ago when retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad’s name was bandied about in D.C. as President-elect Obama’s new drug czar, supporters cheered it as a showing of Obama’s desire for a bipartisan cabinet. Ramstad, an 18-year Republican veteran of the U.S. House with a public history of alcoholism and recovery, helped pass legislation earlier this [...]