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Carolyn <br />f rom; Don Anderson (ANNESININNINIMq <br />n t. Tuesday, R 2003 5:22 PM <br />,.0: Carolyn Curti <br />Subject: Primary Election Task Force <br />Beccause of a prior commitment on the 27th} I won't be able to attend the Task Force meeting --- however, I wish <br />to stay on the Force if other meet' <br />rrrgs are held. <br />Basically, I am opposed to the e1i mi nation of primary elections under the present voting procedures. Makin the <br />� <br />cl ec t r on a free-for-all _o pens the door to many abuses - -- last minute slut campaigns, organized ini nori t group <br />practices, slips telling students hoer to mote, et al. The result is an election where the winning candidate receives <br />loss than a majority of the total votes cast. We have seen the result of such elections, both in Roseville and the <br />state i n recent years. <br />"I'lle essence of democracy is majority rule, not special interest rule. Voter turnout will not be inn p roved - <br />currently, general elections result in greater trtrriouts than primary - and opening the door will not improve this. <br />Voter- cdtication is more important in getting a turnout. Location of polling places, debates between candidates <br />and other c(iucatlorl practices are more effective} as is truthful identification of the candidates' background and <br />Supporting interests. <br />The only possible fair soltrtioll to a single election would using an Instant Runoff approach where voters go to <br />the pal is and mark their favorite candidate on their ballot as their- first choice, At the sane time they can also <br />indicate their.- rL111off choices by ranking candidates in order of preference - 1, ?, 3. Then if no candidate receives <br />-naj or-i ty, the ballots simply need to be retabulated. <br />If your- favorite candidate makes i t into the runoff count, your original ballot counts for your favorite candidate <br />again. If Your favorite has been eliminated, your ballot counts for your next choice among he remaining <br />g <br />c- andidates. This continUes until a candidate with majority (50% + 1) of the votes winds. <br />At lCaSt this Would eliminate, candidates with less than a majority of votes cast becoming the winner. <br />For more information on Instant Runoff voting see the Center for Voting and Democracy web site at <br />t1WX%1W. ftrlrvoting.org" <br />Thanks. <br />Donald H. Aiiderson <br />948 W. COU11ty Road D <br />Roseville, NfN 5 126 <br />651-484-6039 <br />