Berkeley Measure I will enable Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), a reform that Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean calls one of the three necessary reforms to our electoral system. The League of Women Voters' study on IRV determined that it would "strengthen majority rule, increase voter turnout, reduce negative campaigning, broaden the array of candidates and viewpoints, and lower the cost of elections." No wonder Mayor Tom Bates, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, County Supervisor Keith Carson, and councilmembers Mim Hawley, Dona Spring, Kriss Worthington, Linda Maio, and Margaret Breland all support Measure I.
Cut Costs
Runoff elections cost Berkeley up to $300,000 each time out. Even without a runoff, many of these expenses are incurred, since the City prepares for the runoff before it knows whether the election will be necessary! With Measure I, no runoffs will ever be necessary.
Measure I combines the general election and the runoff into the same election, by asking voters who they would choose in a runoff the first time they vote. If your first choice candidate can't win, your next choice vote is counted.
Expand Democracy
Think that low turnout elections aren’t representative of the population? Think no one should be elected without a majority? Tired of limited choices on the ballot? With Measure I:
- Lowest turnout elections will be eliminated. Aggregate turnout in Berkeley’s December runoffs since 1986 is 28% lower than in November general elections. December elections disenfranchise the disabled, working people, and students.
- Winners will be elected by a majority. Right now Berkeley avoids some runoffs by allowing candidates to be elected with 45% of the vote - and some people want to make it 40%! With IRV, elected officials will be majority winners.
- No More Spoilers. New candidates, outsider candidates and representatives of third parties can run without worried about “spoiling” the election, because their supporters will be able to vote for them and also vote for the candidate they prefer among the ones most likely to win. As a result, IRV will increase the number of voices that can be heard!
What if Ralph Nader got 15% AND Al Gore was President?
Everyone benefits when there are no spoilers! Third parties benefit because their supporters can vote for the candidate they really prefer. Major parties benefit because instead of having to run negative campaigns against potential allies, they can campaign for the second place votes of other candidates. If this had happened during the 2000 Presidential election, the acrimony between natural allies such as Democratic and Green Progressives could have been avoided.
What you can do
Unfortunately, there are entrenched interests who fail to see the benefits of IRV. Measure I is being fought throughout California by Political Consultants who benefit personally from extra elections, and by short-sighted insiders of the major parties who fear that opening up the democratic process to more people will decrease their ability to wield power. That’s why we need your help.
- Endorse. Click here to add your name to our growing list of endorsers. We need to show how much support IRV has in Berkeley.
- Volunteer. The Yes on Measure I Campaign needs dozens of volunteers to help with Precinct Walking, Phone Calling, and other campaign needs. We’ll be out in the streets starting the weekend of January 17. Join us!
- Donate. Because of our well-funded opponents, we will need to raise at least $20,000 in a very short time to succeed in this election. Please give as much as you are able - there are no donation limits on Proposition campaigns.
