A group opposing instant-runoff voting in Minneapolis is pledging to fight on despite a Hennepin County District judge's ruling that allowed the new voting method to go ahead this year.
Minnesota Voters Alliance founder Andy Cilek said the group will ask the state Supreme Court for an "expedited review" of the decision by District Judge George McGunnigle.
In a 29-page ruling, the judge rejected a request from the alliance to stop instant-runoff voting, commonly called IRV. In the same ruling, McGunnigle granted a request from the city and FairVote Minnesota to dismiss the alliance's lawsuit. The judge ruled on competing summary judgment motions, meaning he made the decision without a trial.
"The court finds that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that IRV causes any citizen to be deprived of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws," the judge wrote.
McGunnigle issued the ruling Tuesday, and the court released it Wednesday.
The group's suit challenged the constitutionality of the city's instant-runoff voter charter amendment, arguing the method infringes upon an individual's right to vote, right of association and due process.
Minneapolis voters overwhelmingly approved the charter change in 2006, and officials have been preparing to use it in the 2009 city election.
The method requires voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate gains a majority (50 percent plus 1 vote), the candidate with the fewest votes is dropped.
