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Curti, Carolyn <br />F turn : Don Anderson q <br />int: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 5:22 P <br />I-a: Carolyn Curti <br />Subject: Primary Election Task Force <br />Because of a prior commitment on the 27th, I won't be able to attend the Task Force meeting -- however, wish <br />to s t rry oil the Force if other meetings are held. <br />Basically, I any opposed to the elimination of primary elections under the resent voting n procedures. p � p res. akrng the <br />clectron a free -far -all opens the door to many abuses - -- last minute slur campaigns, s or anized <br />. p � � � minority group <br />practices, slips telling students how to vote, et al. The result is an election where the winning candidate receives <br />less than a majority of the total votes cast. We have seen the result of such elections both in Roseville 11 a and the <br />slate in recent gears. <br />The essence of democracy is majority rule, not special interest rule. Voter turnout wil l not be improved - <br />currently} general elections result in greater turnouts than primary - and opening the door will not improve this. <br />Vater- c(ltircration is n1orc important in getting a turnout. Location of polling p laces, debates between candidates <br />and other c(lucation practices are more effective, as is truthful identification oftlie candidates' background and <br />s Lr 1) l)o rt r rlg interests. <br />'file only passible fair- solution to a single election would using an Instant Runoff approach where voters rs go to <br />(fie pol is and mark their favorite candidate on their ballot as their first choice., At the same time the y can also <br />illdicatc t11617 runoff choices by ranking candidates in order of preference - 1, 2, 3. Then if no candidate receives <br />11aJ ority, the ballots simply need to be retabUlated. <br />If Your favorite candidate makcs it into the runoff count, your original ballot counts for our favorite rte candidate <br />irgarn. If Your favorite has been elii-ninatcdx your ballot counts for your next choice arson the rernainin <br />g g <br />candidates. This continues Until a candidate with majority (50% + 1) of the votes winds. <br />At least tliis WOUld eliminate, candidates with less than a majority of votes cast beconiin g the winner. <br />For more information on Instant Runoff voting see the Center for Voting and Democrat web site at <br />g y <br />" %vww. fair votin .org'' <br />Thanks. <br />Donald H. Anderson <br />948 W. COL111ty Road D <br />Roseville, ININ 55126 <br />651-484-6039 <br />