Last updated: May 20, 2011

Ranked Choice Voting

Thanks to a bipartisan bill making it easier for Minnesota cities to implement Ranked Choice Voting, our state is one step closer to smarter, less costly and more substantive elections. Voting reform advocates are cheering the legislation, authored by Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), which will give communities more local control over the option of using RCV.

The bill (S.F. 1446, H.F. 1737) also streamlines the transition process for those cities that choose to implement RCV, and sets RCV-capable equipment standards for the next generation of voting machines purchased in Minnesota.

"As a former school board member, I know local communities are laboratories of innovation," Kelly said. "This bill gives cities, counties and school districts the tools and flexibility they need to explore and, if they choose, to adopt a new approach to local elections that's been shown to work here in Minnesota."

Rest called the bill "a key step in allowing Minnesota cities the opportunity to improve local elections. It's exciting to see communities enactcommonsense voting reforms that promote greater participation and more substantive elections," she said.

No date has been set for a hearing on the measure. To read more about the legislation, check out FairVote Minnesota's May 20 news release and follow updates on the bill's progress at FairVoteMN.org.

Contact your legislators (Representatives and Senator) to let them know that the legislation has been introduced and urge their support for this important reform.

National Popular Vote Plan

As the 2011 session comes to a close, the National Popular Vote Plan (HF 495), an electoral reform Fairvote Minnesota supports, awaits action by the Minnesota House Government Relations Committee.

Under the National Popular Vote bill, which has broad bi-partisan support, the presidential candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states and DC will become president. 

Click here for more information.

Click here to learn more about the Plan, how it works and what states have passed it.

Former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger and Minnesota Representative Laura Brod are on the project's national advisory board, and the Star Tribune has endorsed the plan.

Help us increase support for the National Popular Vote Plan by contacting your legislators to educate them and and urge them to support it.

Stay tuned for further legislative updates.

If you have questions about the legislation, contact 763-807-2550 or info@fairvotemn.org.