
Thoughts on the Recent Memphis Midterm Election
A couple days ago, I voted in Memphis, Tennessee! Mostly for people I believe will do good work for this city and county. But begrudgingly voted for some folks that were the lesser of two evils. That’s one of the many reasons I support Save Instant Runoff Voting Memphis. I want to rank my choices in order of preference. I don’t want to hold my nose and vote at the polling booths.
Good thing that Memphis voted in 2008 to implement IRV but not so great that the Memphis City Council wants to upend it before we even try it. They plan on putting the question on the ballot for November of this year. They claim voters are confused or, liked Edmund Ford Jr. tried to suggest, is a white people ploy. Most people know better. Instant Runoff Voting is getting a lot of traction from California to Minnesota to Maine.
Instant Runoff voting works. And it removes structural barriers to voting and running in elections while saving $100,000s by eliminating costly runoffs. Besides, who wants to go to the polls twice? It’s not exactly easy for working class people to get off work. Nor is it really that fun.
So, Vote “No” on all referendum in Memphis ballots in 2018 to save Instant Runoff Voting.
Carlos is a media specialist with Save IRV, Inc. You can contact him at media@saveirvmemphis.com