SJR43

A Joint Resolution creating a commission to study instant runoff voting.

Whereas, In a democracy, the process of electing public officials should reflect the will of the majority while providing a voice for the minority; and

Whereas, When more than two candidates seek the same office, the current system of voting in this State permits a candidate who receives less than a majority of the votes cast to be elected to that office; and

Whereas, Instant runoff voting is a system of voting which enables a voter to cast a ballot for the voter's favorite candidate as well as for specific runoff choices in order of preference; and

Whereas, Under this system of voting, a candidate who wins a majority of the first-choice votes is elected, but if no candidate receives a majority, the second choice votes of the candidate with the fewest first choice votes are counted, with the process continuing until one candidate is a majority winner; and

Whereas, Instant runoff voting has been used in elections in Louisiana and other states, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and London; and

Whereas, Instant runoff voting may be fairer to the electorate than the current practice in that it may more accurately reflect the voters' overall sentiments; and

Whereas, Instant runoff voting may save public funds by eliminating the need for regular runoff elections now required under certain circumstances in some local jurisdictions; and

Whereas, Adoption of instant runoff voting in this State may promote the democratic values which are the basis of our government; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper, and in the public interest, to establish a commission to study the feasibility of establishing instant runoff voting in New Jersey; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is created an Instant Runoff Voting Study Commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The purpose of the commission shall be to study instant runoff voting, and evaluate the process, its advantages and disadvantages, and type of voting equipment and ballots needed, and make recommendations as to whether the process is effective, efficient and fair and should be adopted in this State.

2. The commission shall consist of ten members. The Governor shall appoint the superintendents of elections of the most populous and next most populous counties of the State, according to the most recent federal decennial census and the Governor shall appoint two county clerks, each of whom shall be a member of a different political party. The President of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate, who shall be a member of the same political party as the Senate President. The Minority Leader of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate, who shall be a member of the same political party as the Senate Minority Leader. The Speaker of the General Assembly shall appoint one member of the General Assembly, who shall be a member of the same political party as the Speaker. The Minority Leader of the General Assembly shall appoint one member of the General Assembly, who shall be a member of the same political party as the Assembly Minority Leader. The Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall jointly appoint one member from the general public who has an expertise or interest in the area of elections. The Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly shall jointly appoint one member from the general public who has an expertise or interest in the area of elections, who shall be a member of a different political party than the appointee of the Senate President and Speaker of the General Assembly. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation. A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

3. Members of the commission shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of this resolution and shall hold their initial organizational meeting within 30 days after their appointment. The members shall elect one of the members to serve as chair and one of the members to serve as vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall not be of the same political party. The chair may appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission.

4. The commission shall meet at the call of the chair. The commission shall conduct a minimum of three public hearings, in various parts of the State and elicit the testimony of interested groups and the general public at such times and places as it shall designate. A meeting of the commission shall be called upon the request of five of the commission members and six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof.

5. The commission shall prepare and submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the General Assembly and Minority Leader of the General Assembly no later than six months following its initial organizational meeting.

6. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon submission of the commission's final report as prescribed in section 5 of this resolution.

STATEMENT

There is created an Instant Runoff Voting Study Commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The purpose of the commission will be to study instant runoff voting, and evaluate the process, its advantages and disadvantages, and type of voting equipment and ballots needed, and make recommendations as to whether the process is effective, efficient and fair and should be adopted in this State.

The commission will consist of ten members. The Governor will appoint the superintendents of elections of the most populous and next most populous counties of the State, according to the most recent federal decennial census and the Governor will appoint two county clerks, each of whom will be a member of a different political party. The President of the Senate will appoint one member of the Senate, who will be a member of the same political party as the Senate President. The Minority Leader of the Senate will appoint one member of the Senate, who will be a member of the same political party as the Senate Minority Leader. The Speaker of the General Assembly will appoint one member of the General Assembly, who will be a member of the same political party as the Speaker. The Minority Leader of the General Assembly will appoint one member of the General Assembly, who will be a member of the same political party as the Assembly Minority Leader. The Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly will jointly appoint one member from the general public who has an expertise or interest in the area of elections, and the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly will jointly appoint one member from the general public who has an expertise or interest in the area of elections, who shall be a member of a different political party than the appointee of the Senate President and Speaker of the General Assembly. The members of the commission will serve without compensation. A vacancy in the membership of the commission will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

The commission will prepare and submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the General Assembly and Minority Leader of the General Assembly no later than six months following its initial organizational meeting.