The effectiveness of our government depends on an open, vital democracy. Too often our democratic process falls short. Too many people don't vote and feel that their ideas and values are not represented in their government.
To help revitalize our democracy Greens are working for initiative and referendum; fair ballot access; extended voting times; equal access for candidates to debates, media and other public events; an elected Metropolitan Council and an end to Minnesota's open primary system.
The three fundamental reforms that follow, however, are priorities and stand out as essential to building the open, healthy multi-party democracy that our state and country demand.
Proportional Representation
Greens believe it is time to modernize our outdated winner-take-all election system. We support restructuring our representative bodies into multi-member districts where representatives are elected based on the proportion of votes their parties receive.
Such proportional representation voting systems are used today in democracies throughout the world, including most of the older democracies of Europe as well as the newer ones of South Africa and the former Soviet Union.
Proportional representation ensures both majority and minority representation and gives better representation to citizens from all cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds. It assures that more voters help elect a representative, promotes more issue-oriented campaigns, yields higher voter turnouts and gives alternative parties a fairer chance to elect candidates.
Proportional representation should be used for all multi-winner elections such as city councils, state legislatures and Congress. We need an election system that encourages free and fair competition between all political parties and ensures that all political groups get their fair share of representation.
Instant Runoff Voting
In elections where a single winner is desirable, such as those for governor or mayor, we support using preference voting.
Also known as instant runoff voting, in this method voters rank their choices. Then, if no one gets a majority, the candidate with the lowest number of votes has his or her ballots redistributed according to the voters' second choices. If no one still has a majority, another redistribution occurs with the ballots of the next lowest-ranked candidate -- and so on.
Instant runoff voting solves the "spoiler" problem, assures majority rule, frees like-minded voters from the problem of "splitting" their votes, and promotes cleaner, more positive campaigns. It has been used successfully for years throughout the world, including in Ireland to elect the president and in Australia to elect the congress.
Campaign Finance Reform
These reforms will mean little, however, if we cannot end the unfair influence that money has over our elections. Greens support equitable public financing for all political campaigns. We need better campaign funding rules, more complete disclosure and stronger enforcement until we reach full public financing. Campaign contributions and other money given to candidates and to political parties must be reported fully, individual contributions should be limited and strict overall spending caps maintained.
