Krist Novoselic on Fairvote.org

The intimate atmosphere of EMP’s Blue Lounge cradled the thirty some attendees listening to Fair Vote’s organization speakers. Krist Novoselic, once Nirvana bass player, is chairman of Fair Vote and an advocate for ranks choice voting. After a lot of talking from other speakers that my mind was just not grasping Krist addressed the crowd, “Coming out of a rock ’n roll band, I should have picked a sexier issue. Let’s begin by explaining what IRV or ranks choice voting is, some people appreciate that.”

He continues after the room lets out unison sighs of relief or amused chuckles.

“Say we are at the Northwest Musician Appreciation club and we are here to elect a chairman. (scattered giggling) We use the old fashioned traditional run-off method like they use in unions. So we pass out a ballot, everyone gets a ballot. We write down our favorite and then we go have a drink, a bite to eat, chat a little bit. Now once they count ballots and if someone gets a majority of the votes, they win! If no one has a majority of the votes, we eliminate the last place candidate and pass out a second ballot. Ok. If your candidate is still in the race than you put him down as your first choice. But, if your first choice was eliminated, we’ll I’ve got to pick one of the four remaining candidates. So you put down your second choice. We count ’em again. If we have a majority winner we have a chairperson. If not, we pick up a ballot and do the same thing. You get it, right? We could go through three maybe four ballots. People are going, ’I didn’t plan on being here until 9:30pm!’. Ya’ know? We’re asking people to name their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th choices over and over again. Well we can do all this with one ballot. You can put down your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice and then we count them all up. If someone got a majority of votes, they won! If there is no majority, you eliminate the last place candidate and those votes just like the traditional way, you get those 2nd and 3rd choices and you distribute them to the remaining candidates evenly until someone gets a majority. It’s the same system. It’s in Robert’s Rule of Order which is what we use to conduct our business at our Musician’s Appreciation Association.”

Someone from the crowd asks why anyone would oppose this idea. What are the arguments against it? Rob Richie, Fair Vote’s Executive Director, answers first.”Why do people oppose it? Well, it speaks to people’s political survival instincts. People who are elected officials are uneasy about a system they were not elected under.”

Krist answers second, “There’s the geekwonkey non monotenicity anomaly- is that no election system is perfect. Say you’ve got a way right-winger, a left winger, and a moderate person- so you’ve got three choices. And all the people pick the left winger and the right winger so the moderate gets eliminated and those votes are distributed to the extremes. This never happens though. Usually, it works the other way. “

He continues with increasing animation, “You could be a jerk on a message board who really wants range voting, or the Condorcet method which are fine but alot of times the supporters of those systems are obsessive and they’ll follow like Rob or we’ll be on a message board or we’ll write something or we’ll appear in some newspaper and these people will do the same, in suspect and come and attack it. But, the thing is- we’re not attacking what they’re proposing. However, our proposals have been tested in Federal court. Our proposals have been used in the United States and theirs never have and its alot of work to get something on the ballot. And why would you want to take that risk on something that’s never been proven?”

I feel his passion more than his meaning- both have impact. IRV voting is a rebel cause championed by a rock ‘n roll revolutionary who truly believes in its pure democracy, fairness, and votes back into every American hand.

Rob cuts in with, “Like the governor of Vermont. Why we have to pressure the governor so much is because his political party has won several seats without a majority.”

“That’s a survival instinct!!!” Krist shouts with gusto. I can see him suppress the urge to punch the air.

Rob continues, “And he thinks that if this system was in its place he may have lost some of those seats and this may shock you- but, sometimes politicians consider those factors when evaluating electoral rule.”

Sneaky bastards. I wonder how you get this sort of thing in place? The speech concludes and we are all free to enjoy the lounge and complimentary wine bar. I turn with a spin on my heel to my coworker and frontman for local band Martian with, “Explain.”

Martin Link: “If your first choice doesn’t get picked then your second choice gets credit.”

“So it’s a process of elimination, basically.”

ML: “Yeah, basically. It costs less money. Look at the presidential elections, two democrats and one republican. What kind of choice is that? So like the Naders and more obscure people, you don’t vote for them because the vote is wasted. This is pure democracy. They use it in Europe and stuff and Pierce County.”

“How did they get it in Pierce County?”

ML: “They got it on the ballot and the voters voted for it. Eventually, they’ll have it on the King County ballot and then we’ll vote for it. I’ll vote for it.”

“How do you get it on the ballot?”

ML: “You have to rally support. Go ask Krist.”

I totter over to the other side of the room, never get used wearing heels and the wine doesn’t help. Here we go. Gotta know! “Hey, Krist how to you get ranks choice voting on the ballot?”

Krist Novoselic: “You get people’s signatures and petition to get it on the ballot. Elected officials can vote to have it on the ballot or it can be implemented by an elected official.”

“How did you get involved with Fair Vote?

KN: “Recognizing the barriers and reservations in our current system and not accepting it. Shake things up a bit. It’s about having more choices, putting power in the hands of the voters. It’s about fairness.”

“We can we do to help?”

KN: “Volunteer at an organization like Fair Vote www.fairvote.org. Get the word out. Talk about it. Talk to your statesman, congressman, city council. Write about it.”

-January Fieldz

Photography by Blush Photo