(1) The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to examine the use of a voting system that requires all victorious candidates to be elected with a majority vote rather than a plurality of effective votes, and that allows voters to designate secondary and other preferences for potential tabulation if their first choice candidate does not receive a majority of the votes cast. The legislature recognizes that the system known as instant runoff voting achieves these purposes.

     (2) The legislature wishes to examine whether voter interest and participation in elections will increase when instant runoff voting, a voting method that promotes additional voter choices and a more meaningful recognition of all voter selections, is used to elect nonpartisan candidates. The legislature declares that it is in the interest of participatory democracy for voters to be given the opportunity to vote for their first choice candidate while still making effective secondary choices among the remaining candidates.

     (3) The legislature therefore intends to authorize a limited pilot project to study the effects of using instant runoff voting as a local option for nonpartisan offices in any qualifying city.

[2005 c 153 § 1.]