Pending Legislation and Ballot Measures

2001-2002

Congress

Instant Runoff Voting in Presidential Elections
Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. introduced three electoral reform bills in November 2001. Please click on the above link for more information.

H.RES.3232: Instant Runoff Voting in Presidential Elections

H.J.RES.72: Constitutional Right to Vote

H.CON.RES.263: Presidential Debates

Federal Elections Review Commission Act
A bipartisan bill, HR 57, sponsored by U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Jim Leach (R-IA), was introduced on November 15, 2000 and reintroduced on January 3, 2001 to study proportional representation, instant runoff voting, and other pro-democracy reforms. 

Congress 2004 Commission Act
Congress 2004 Commission Act (HR 506) is a bill sponsored by Representative Alcee Hastings (D – FL) that would create a commission to analyze both the size of Congress and the method representatives are elected. The bill was introduced in the 105th Congress as HR 187 and re-introduced on February 7, 2001 in the 107th Congress.

HR 506 specifically cites proportional representation and cumulative voting as methods that should be examined. 

Voters' Choice Act
HR 1189, sponsored by Cynthia McKinney, would repeal a 1967 statute mandating single-member congressional districts. It would allow states to implement proportional representation methods of election for the U.S. House. 

Read Congresswoman McKinney's op-ed about proportional representation. This appeared in Capitol Hill's Roll Call newspaper on February 14, 2000.

For more on HR1189, please see our Voter's Choice Act page.

Mel Watt States' Choice of Voting Systems Act
(106^th Congress)
States' Choice of Voting Systems Act (HR 1173) This bill, from last Congress, would have allowed a greater range of options for individual states to configure their Congressional districts, giving them the ability to create districts that more fairly reflect the population of the state as a whole.

Congressman Tom Campbell - California (R) gives congressional testimony supporting the States' Choice of Voting Systems Act and cumulative voting.

States

California

Assembly Speak Robert Hertzberg (D) introduced AB 1515 to use instant runoff voting for special elections to fill vacancies in Congress, the State Assembly and the State Senate.  Bill text

Hawaii

Senate Bill 1270, in the Hawaiian State Senate provides for the instant runoff method of voting for all state offices. Bill text and summary .

Illinois

There is bipartisan support for a constitutional amendment that would restore cumulative voting in three-member districts to the Illinois House. House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4 would replace the current 118 single-member district system with 39 districts of three members each, elected by cumulative voting. This would allow the political minority in each part of the state to be represented in Springfield, not just the political majority.

See Cumulative voting for Illinois for an article on the effort, and the Midwest Democracy Center's page on the drive to revive cumulative voting for the latest details.

Maine

Maryland

State Senator Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George’s), introduced an instant runoff voting bill, SB 233 in the 2001 General Assembly session.  It was heard before the Maryland Senate Economic & Environmental Affairs Committee on February 15, 2001.  See bill text and summary

Testimony of the Center’s Deputy Director, Eric Olson , in support of the Maryland instant runoff voting bill.

Also in Maryland, Secretary of State John T. Willis’ Commission on Voting Systems and Election Procedures recommends modern voting equipment for the state.  See Eric Olson’s January 4, 2001 testimony to the Commission , and see the Commission’s recommendations.

Testimony of Eric Olson on Maryland House Joint Resolution 9 from the 2000 General Assembly session.  To establish a "Commission to Study Proportional Representation and Single-Member Legislative Districting for the House of Delegates of the General Assembly."

Massachusetts

Representative Robert M. Koczera introduced H3281, which proposes studying the feasibility of alternative or replacement voting methods for elective offices in the Commonwealth, such as instant runoff voting. See bill summary.

Minnesota

State Representatives Kahn, Davnie, Kelliher, Dawkins, K. Clark introduced HB 327, which provides instant runoff voting for presidential, congressional, statewide and legislative offices. See bill summary and text

New Jersey

A bill was introduced in the Senate that would amend the state Constitution to require the use of instant runoffs in all state elections. The Center strongly urges viewers in NJ to contact their state Senator and support this bill. Bill text (SCR 112) is available online.

New Mexico

Representative Max Coll introduced HJR 11 to allow runoff and instant runoff elections, and State Senator Cisco McSorley has introduced SJR 25, which requires candidates for election to be elected by a majority vote using instant runoff voting.  It also allows the option to use instant runoff voting in New Mexico municipal and primary elections. See the bill text .

Oregon

Two bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that would require the use of instant runoffs in the nomination and election of candidates. Bill text for the House bill (HB 3763) and Senate bill (SB 916) are available online. .

Vermont  

Three bills introduced in 2001 would enact instant runoff voting in Vermont, these include:

• S. 94 , which has 9 co-sponsors -- six Democrats and three Republicans, including former Lt. Governor Barbara Snelling (R).  Sponsors include: Richard McCormack (D), Barbara Snelling (R), John F. Campbell (D), Julius Canns (R), James Condos (D), Gerry Gossens (D), James Leddy (D), Virginia Lyons (D), and Philip Scott (R).
• S. 50 , sponsored by State Senator Cheryl Rivers (D), Chair of the Finance Committee
• H. 175 , sponsored by Reps. Karen Kitzmiller (D), David Zuckerman (P), Thomas Little (R), Betty Nuovo (D), Daryl Pillsbury (I), Gene Sweetser (R), Michael Vinton (D).

See former Nirvana bassist, Krist Novoselic’s comments on the Washington state bill, which appeared in “The Daily World,” Grays Harbor County, Washington.

Cities

San Francisco adopts instant runoff voting on March 5, 2002 by a 55%-45% margin. See the Center's press release.  Next step -- implementation of IRV in the November 2003 mayoral elections.  

On Election Day, 2000, v oters in San Leandro (CA) and Oakland (CA) approved city charter amendments that permit the use of instant runoff voting in city elections.  These cities join Santa Clara County (CA) and Vancouver (WA) who have passed charter amendments allowing IRV in the past 2 years.