Even though the Minneapolis voters overwhelming supported Instant Runoff Voting in 2006, the St. Paul city council is mounting bogus claims of unconstitutionality as their basis for blocking a successful citizen petition drive to place IRV on the ballot.
Please take action today! Here's how:
IMMEDIATELY: CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER
We need to send a strong message to our City Council that Saint Paul constituents overwhelmingly want IRV on November's ballot --right now!
It is easy as 1-2-3:
1. Find your Councilmember
Melvin Carter, Ward 1: 266-8610 Dave Thune, Ward 2: 266-8620 Pat Harris, Ward 3: 266-8630 Russ Stark, Ward 4: 266-8640 Lee Helgen, Ward 5: 266-8650 Dan Bostrom, Ward 6: 266-8660 Kathy Lantry, Ward 7: 266-8670
2. Call your Councilmember
When you call, a secretary or machine will answer your call. Ask to leave a message with your Council member about Instant Runoff Voting. After the beep, start with your name and address.
OR e-mail your Councilmember
Click on their name above to send an e-mail, or click HERE to e-mail them using a template on our site. Then add a few words of your own.
3. Tell your Councilmember
YOU are one of the more than 7,000 petition signers who insist the council put IRV on the ballot as required by state law.
You've heard the City Attorney "thinks" IRV "might be" unconstitutional according to what he said in the Minneapolis Tribune and Pioneer Press, but you don't want to lose IRV because of a "guess."
Since IRV has been upheld in several courts, it is "clearly" NOT unconstitutional in other states or under the federal constitution. The city attorney opinion doesn't make the case that it is in Minnesota and, therefore, there is no legal reason to keep it off the ballot.
The petition process is the way citizens can put a question on the ballot when the Council won't. It would be a breach of faith and law if the Council overruled thousands of St. Paul citizens by improperly refusing to allow IRV on the ballot due to a defective opinion of the city attorney.
Don't waste taxpayer money fighting a lawsuit to keep IRV on the ballot.
The voters of Saint Paul put IRV on the ballot, now let the people vote on IRV in November.
Please take a moment to do this right away. And thank you for making your voice heard, so we can make our votes count!
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JULY 2nd: ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
What: the Saint Paul City Council plans to vote on whether or not they will block citizens from voting on IRV this November. Saint Paul Better Ballot Campaign endorsers John Hottinger and Jay Benanav, among others may testify. Lets fill the seats with IRV support!
Where: 15 Kellogg Blvd., Council Chambers, Third Floor City Hall
When: Wednesday, July 2. The meeting will start at 3:30PM. We will know what time IRV will be addressed by Friday June 27, when the agenda is finalized.
Please hold this date on your agenda, or REPLY to this message if you already know you can attend. Additional details as they come will be available here.
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