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The
Green Party of New Jersey |
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June
28,
2001
Contact: Jerry L. Coleman,
Green Party candidate for Governor of New Jersey Joe Fortunato,
Chair, Green Party of NJ Jane Hunter,
Communications Committee, Green Party of NJ Rena Amada, Press
Relations, Green Party of NJ |
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COLEMAN CALLS FOR INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT Trenton: Green Party Gubernatorial candidate Jerry L. Coleman today called for the implementation of instant runoff voting (IRV) in New Jersey. He will support a State Constitutional Amendment to allow this to happen. "Third-party candidates like myself should be able to run for office without being labeled spoilers," Coleman said today, "and those holding office ought to be able to claim they have the support of a majority of voters. Instant runoff elections will permit both changes to occur." Coleman pointed out that both Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon won presidential races with less than 45% of the popular vote. In 1994, three governors won with less than 38% of the vote. "When such powerful positions can be had with such low percentages, there can be no guarantee of majority democratic rule" Mr. Coleman said. In an address to campaign supporters after the primary election, Mr. Coleman pointed out that IRV, which has been ruled to be constitutional, will guarantee majority winners in a single election, will save taxpayers the expense of a second election and will eliminate the problem of so-called "spoiler" candidates swinging an election... a charge often leveled at Ralph Nader in last year's Presidential election... and a charge which is now being leveled at the Coleman campaign by McGreevy supporters. Instant runoffs work like two-round runoffs but everything happens in one election! A voter ranks his or her choices in order of preference. If one candidate obtains a majority of first choices after a first count, he or she wins. If a voters favored candidate doesn't make the second round of counting he or she is eliminated and the voters other choices may be considered. Instant runoff voting is used today to select, for example, the Mayor of London, the Australian House of Representatives and the President of Ireland. |
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