CR 2003-077 Resoulution On Voting Equipment
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May 6, 2003
Council Report 2003-077
RESOLUTION ON VOTING EQUIPMENT
Proposed Action
The Charter Commission recommends that the Council approve the following motion: Approve Resolution
2003-042. urging the HA V A State Plan Committee to require that any new voting equipment have the ability
to handle ranked ballot voting.
Overview
The Federal Government has made money available to the states to upgrade their elections through the Help
America Vote Act (HA VA.) The State of Minnesota has established a committee, the HA V A State Plan
Committee, to make recommendations on how the money should be spent in Minnesota.
The Hopkins Charter Commission is aware that there are other voting systems besides winner takes all. One
alternative is Instant Run Off Voting or ranked ballot voting. This method allows voters to rank candidates.
.The City of Hopkins actually had a similar voting system when it first adopted its Charter in 1947. This
method can be cumbersome when ballots are hand counted but can easily be done by machine.
The HA V A State Plan Committee will be making recommendations about new voting equipment in
Minnesota. The Charter Commission, while not recommending any\change in the way Hopkins votes, decided
that it was prudent to have any new voting equipment at least have the capability to support alternative voting
methods should such methods be desired in the future.
Primary Issues to Consider
. Does this action change the way voting is done in Hopkins?
. How does Instant Run Off Voting or ranked ballot voting work?
Supportim! Information
. Resolution 2003-042
. Charter Commission Resolution 2003-01
.
Council Report 2003-077
Page 2
Analvsis of the Issues
. Does this action change the way voting is done in Hopkins?
This action has no ,affect on how voting is done in Hopkins or the State of Minnesota. It is merely a request
that the HA V A State Plan Committee not rule out the use of alternative voting systems in the future by
purchasing voting equipment now that cannot be adapted for other methods of voting.
. How does Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) or ranked ballot voting work?
IRV is a ranked ballot method of voting that results in a winner chosen by a majority of the voters. The voters
rank the candidates in order of preference. Each voter has one vote which counts for the highest preferred
candidate that can use it. The term "Instant Runoff Voting" was coined because the method of transferring
votes from defeated candidates to continuing candidates is just like a runoff election except that it is
accomplished on one ballot.
The ballot might look like the example below. Voters would be asked to rank the candidates in order of
preference - their first choice and their runoff choices
r~--- 2nd 3rd
I choice j choice choice
, =Q~~_,~CL
1-,.-Jd~~+~"__.l:l-t~D
. ._bL 1 7 bL-~JI.__
.
~.
j Bill
I Frank
How are the votes counted in IR V?
First choices are counted. If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated,
and those votes are transferred to the next ranked candidate on each ballot. The votes are recounted. The
process continues until one candidate has a majority of the votes and is declared the winner.
In the example below Bill is dropped and the second choice votes on all of the ballots that voted for Bill are
distributed to the other candidates. In this case 16 voters had Bill as their first choice and John as their second
choice while four voters had Bill as their first choice and Frank as their second choice. This process continues
until someone wins a majority.
1 st Instant lFin~'l
hoi~_Ru':1~!!-~
35 [51 Winner
o -20 I .
45 -:;Tj
100 I ~r.
.: Winning l
i ~~~::1h~ld.~.__~.~,,~~_~_~..~
Council Report 2003-077
Page 3
Supporters of IRV maintain that it will encourage voter participation inasmuch as voters can vote for the
candidate of their choice, including third party candidates, without feeling as if they are throwing away their
vote. They also maintain that it may serve to clean up elections because candidates would have an incentive to
appeal to voters to become their second choice if not their first choice.
Alternatives
1. Approve Resolution 2003-042.
2. Do not approve Resolution 2003-042.
The Charter Commission recommends Alternative #1.
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION 2003-042
Whereas, the Hopkins City Council recognizes that there are alternative voting systems such as
ranked ballot voting; and
Whereas, the Federal Government has made funds available to the states for upgrading voting
equipment through the Help America Vote Act (HA V A); and
Whereas, the State of Minnesota has established a committee to make recommendations on how
these Federal funds should be spent;
Now Therefore be it resolved that the Hopkins City Council recommends that the Minnesota
HA V A State Plan committee require any new voting equipment, purchased with Federal
Funds, have the ability to handle ranked ballot voting.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this sixth day of May 2003.
By
Gene Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
CHARTER COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2003-01
RESOLUTION ON VOTING EQUIPMENT
Whereas, The Hopkins Charter Commission is not advocating a change in the voting
system; and
Whereas, the Commission recognizes that there are alternative voting systems such as
ranked ballot voting; and
Whereas, the Federal Government has made funds available to the states for
upgrading voting equipment through the Help America Vote Act (HAVA); and
Whereas, the State of Minnesota has established a committee to make
recommendations on how these Federal funds should be spent;
Now Therefore be it resolved that the Hopkins Charter Commission recommends that
the Hopkins City Council pass a resolution supporting a recommendation that the HAVA
state planning committee require any new voting equipment, purchased with Federal
Funds, have the ability to handle ranked ballot voting.
Passed and adopted at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Hopkins Charter
Commission held at Hopkins City Hall on April 29, 2003.
.
a es A. Genellie, Secretary
opkins Charter Commission