The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

December 9, 2008

Your View: Instant runoff cheaper than recount

Michael Burger, Mankato

Recent Your Views and Our Views talked about the recount. One suggested the candidates should cover the cost of the recount.

Both Al Franken and Sen. Norm Coleman raised $20 million of which $4 million was raised in Minnesota. Each campaign raised around $16 million from sources outside of Minnesota, according to campaign filings for each candidate.

We are still getting articles suggesting that Franken may win the recount, but still would be the loser.

We must demand that our state legislators do two things in the next legislative session. Start with campaign finance reform. If a candidate can’t raise enough money from in-state sources, maybe they shouldn’t be a candidate. Maybe we should cap spending at $10 million and make the candidates do more televised debates. I sure would like to see less attack ads on TV.

Second, would be to institute IRV voting — this is instant runoff voting or ranked voting. This totally eliminates the need for a recount. We would save over $100,000 on the need for recounts if we had IRV.

If you don’t understand how this works, you can read about it at Fairvotemn.com.

You can also call KEYC and ask them to talk about it on the news.

The League of Women Voters, DFL, Green Party and Independence Party all are in favor of IRV.

It’s time for a change in Minnesota: How we vote, and campaign finance reform.

I hope each of you contact your legislators and voice your opinion.

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