Whereas the platform of the Libertarian Party of Georgia states that we support election systems that are more representative of the electorate at the federal, state, and local levels and that we oppose laws that effectively deny the voters their right to consider all legitimate alternatives; and,
Whereas Georgia currently requires a candidate to receive a majority of the vote in order to win an election, with a separate runoff election being held if no candidate receives a majority; and,
Whereas instant runoff voting eliminates the costs of holding an additional election, eliminates the inconveniences voters face when trying to fit an additional election into their schedules, and preserves the requirement that a candidate receive a majority of the vote in order to win an election; and,
Whereas instant runoff voting enables voters to rank their preferred candidate first without having to worry about the so-called spoiler effect in plurality voting systems; and,
Whereas Georgia already provides instant runoff voting ballots for military and overseas voters; and,
Whereas House Bill 200 as introduced would provide for the option for municipalities to adopt and use instant runoff voting for their elections; and,
Whereas House Bill 200 merely provides municipalities the option of instant runoff voting rather than mandating its use; and,
Whereas the likelihood of the passage of House Bill 200 would be improved if municipalities expressed support for the legislation; and,
Whereas House Bill 419 as introduced would provide for election by plurality of votes instead of majority in general elections; and,
Whereas a candidate receiving less than a majority of votes implies that the majority of votes were actually against them; and,
Whereas plurality voting creates an incentive for people for vote strategically rather than vote for their preferred candidate, which reinforces a two-party system and disadvantages alternative candidates;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Georgia:
- supports the passage of House Bill 200; and,
- calls upon municipal governments to adopt resolutions supporting the passage of House Bill 200; and,
- opposes the passage of House Bill 419.
