Instant-runoff voting is gaining momentum as problem solver

It eliminates need for runoff election, cuts 'spoiler' effect

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BURLINGTON, Vt.

Runoff elections are typically cumbersome processes, taking weeks and sometimes months to determine a winner. Burlington is going to do it all instantly.

In an innovation known as instant-runoff voting, the results of Tuesday's five-candidate election for mayor and whatever runoffs are needed to settle it will be known soon after polls close.

For the first time in a mayoral election in the United States, voters will mark their ballots for their favorite candidate and their second, third, fourth and fifth choices.

If none of the five get 50 percent of the vote on the first round, the candidate with the lowest vote total would be eliminated. Then the second choice of the voters who made that candidate their first pick would be counted and so on.

"As soon as somebody gets to 50 percent, it stops," said Jo LaMarche, the city election director.

Hey Steve: Since you've been through a runoff before, what are your thoughts on instant-runoff voting???