Maryland could have been a historic breakthrough on the spoiler effect, e.g. blaming Nader for Gore losing in 2000. This is one of the main blocks to corralling all progressive votes together to drive out the Bush neo-cons. See
Kevin Zeese testimony to the committee. Kevin Zeese is running as an independent anti-war candidate for US Senate in Md and can be expected to get a lot of votes.
Even with 3 democrat co-sponsors the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee couldn't find 2 other democrats to support using Instant Runoff Voting in state and federal elections. The committee is weighted in favor of democrats 7-4. The final vote was 4 for IRV and 7 against including the democrat chair and co-chair and the chair of the elections subcommittee all voting against.
One would think that since 2000 more democrats would have figured out the way to win is to work with the greens and independents rather than against them. IRV is win-win, but it does mean the democrats have to give up their illusion that there is still an effective 2 party system and that they are an opposition party that people look up to.
Every year more and more people register decline to state but are still forced to vote for one of the 2 parties because of "lesser-evilism" voting. We still are not allowed to vote for who we want.
With IRV in place one could vote for who they want 1st, who they could tolerate 2nd, and who will stop whoever they don't want 3rd. This will change the whole dynamics of elections and help us build the progressive movement we desperately need.
There is still another chance in Md. People are urged to contact their local delegate and ask them to sponsor or co- sponsor a house version of the senate bill SB 292 which was voted down.
Also, there is a campaign in Vt. Burlington, Vt will use IRV in the upcoming mayoral election. In addition, there is a senate and house version of IRV for state/federal elections proposed. Like Md there aren't enough votes to get it out of committee. Once it is on the floor of either house we can have a full blown out debate on the pros and cons.
Howard Dean has said and written that he supports IRV, but where is his leadership in supporting it in his homestate.Instead of supporting IRV he and others it is said talked the Progressive Party congressional candidate from running; why? the spoiler effect. He would have cost the Democrat candidate the election.
2008 is coming fast; if there's no IRV we have to decide whether to vote for another pro-war, pro-patriot act candidate like Kerry or vote our beliefs. Which will it be?
link to Poll and previous diaries on Daily Kos w background and links to elected officials to contact.
Allied we win; divided we lose again!