Approving Instant Runoff Voting in Memphis

We live in a world of cause and effect. If you change the causes, then you change the effects. Almost every ill we have today—layoffs, bailouts, wars, etc.—can be traced to ineffective government caused by polarized politics. One of the cures for polarized politics is the adoption of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV).

As with so many worthwhile things, we humans crawl before we walk and walk before we run. That’s why the approval of IRV at a city level is important. The approval and experience can lead to adoption of the process on a larger scale.

Today’s writing features an interview with Steven Mulroy, the prime mover behind the approval of IRV in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Mulroy is an attorney and Law Professor teaching Civil Rights and Constitutional Law at the University of Memphis.

Bradley: Mr. Mulroy, please tell me about yourself and how you first learned about IRV.

Mulroy: At one time I was a lawyer for the Civil Rights Division of the US Justice Department. In that position I was a prosecutor for cases involving voting rights litigation. That activity led to an interest in alternative voting systems. Along the way, I met Rob Richie of FairVote.org and latched onto the potential of IRV.

Bradley: How did you get involved in bringing IRV to Memphis?

Mulroy: I was elected to the Shelby County Board. Shelby is the county that encompasses Greater Memphis. The County Board acts as a city council for Greater Memphis, but Memphis is still an independently governed city. The Charter Commission for the City was asking for recommended changes to the Charter and I suggested IRV. To me, IRV is a no-brainer. IRV offers cost savings and increases voter turn out. Studies elsewhere where IRV has been approved bear that out.

Bradley: What was the reaction to your proposal?

Mulroy: The Charter Commission had some skepticism. The three main points they were concerned about were the potential for voter confusion, the compatibility with our voting machines and (Memphis’ population being so predominately Black) that the process would hurt African American voters somehow.

Sometimes I think we are too quick to not give voters credit for their intelligence. Rank ordering your choices in the voting booth is no different than stating your choices for ice cream. If you’re having a conversation about what ice cream to bring home for dinner, your spouse may tell you their first choice is Rocky Road. If the store is out of Rocky Road, then bring me Orange Sherbet and so on and so forth. In fact, exit polling data from locations with IRV says 80-90% of voters prefer IRV and think it’s easy.

As far as voting machine compatibility, Tennessee mandates everyone to go to optical scan machines by 2010. Those machines are extremely compatible with IRV.

With regard to African American voters, IRV is a process that ensures a majority result, and Memphis is a majority Black city. You don’t have a winner with something like 30-40% of the vote. Also, IRV helps those (like the poor, disabled and minorities) who have trouble getting back to the polls a second time for runoff elections. The local chapter of the NAACP quickly saw IRV was a better process for those who were poor (regardless of ethnicity) and endorsed IRV.

Bradley: What were the main objections you heard during the campaign?

Mulroy: Voter confusion was the one most often expressed, but that was not the underlying concern. The underlying concern was the approval of this system would take power from the king makers and the deal makers. They wanted a system that favored the politicians. IRV favors the voters. Also, many incumbents were concerned IRV would threaten their reelection. In many cases, their concerns were unjustified. At any rate, the issue is what’s good for the voters, not what’s good for incumbent politicians

Bradley: IRV passed in Memphis with a 71% majority. Why was it so widely accepted?

Mulroy: The power of its appeal is in what it does. It saves time and money because you only have to have one election for non-partisan elections. IRV promotes good government by resulting in a majority winner and, as a by-product, reduces negative campaigning.

Bradley: Any final remarks you’d like to offer?

Mulroy: This system clearly has great potential to overcome polarized politics at the state and federal levels and I want to take action to make that a reality. Once people see IRV’s power, they’re going to demand its adoption. IRV means positive campaigning, access for lesser known candidates and the ability to vote your aspirations by overcoming the spoiler scenario. All those things mean better government for all of us.

Note: For more details on IRV, go to www.FairVote.org.

A Thought for the Holidays

Since this will be my last Ezine before Christmas, I wanted to wish everyone the happiest of Holidays. I know in some ways that may be difficult for some. For that reason, allow me to tell you a brief story about something that happened 64 years ago today.

After a highly successful campaign through the summer and fall, the Allies in Europe were suddenly attacked by the Germans in the engagement known as The Battle of the Bulge. General Eisenhower gathered his staff in Verdun to talk about what to do. Faces around the table were grim. Things looked really bad and the Allies were definitely losing the fight. Even worse for some of those gathered there was the anticipation of Ike’s arrival. Eisenhower was known for his temper and the outbursts accompanying that temper. Eisenhower walked in as the group stood at attention. Eisenhower had the group be seated and then surveyed the room. “There will be no glum faces at this table,” he said. “We will treat this situation as the opportunity it is.”

To which Gen George Patton said something that (in the spirit of the season) I will not repeat here. What Patton said lightened the mood and smiles broke out. The group realized the truth of what Eisenhower was saying. The German maneuver was giving the Germans temporary advantage, but simultaneously exposed a weakness the Allies could use to defeat the Germans. History records they did just that.

So as you gather with family and friends this holiday, you may see glum faces. If so, I hope you will find a way to say, “There will be no glum faces. We will enjoy the season and this time together for the purpose it was intended.” And I hope that purpose is the sharing of the love and devotion you have for one another. Whatever the ills or troubles we have today, an opportunity exists to turn those ills around. We just have to have the courage and will to find it. We’ve done it before and we can do it again. Maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to have your own George Patton in your midst who will make a wise crack and have everyone smiling. Laughter is one of the blessings of every season.