Summary

Original source:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/11/04/politics1853EST0116.DTL

Details

• A mysterious malfunction with the custom computer software San Francisco is using to count ballots cast under the city's new "ranked-choice voting" system could delay efforts to declare the winners of four races for county supervisor.
• When the San Francisco Department of Elections on Wednesday tried to test run the program that is supposed to redistribute voters' second and third-place preferences among candidates who weren't eliminated in the first round, some of the votes didn't get counted and skewed the results, said director John Arntz.
• San Francisco is the first major city to implement ranked-choice voting, which is designed to eliminate run-off elections and to encourage third-party participation by allowing voters to list their first, second and third-place choices for municipal offices.
• Since officials needed several more days anyway to verify about 60,000 late absentee and provisional ballots, the unexpected snag has not yet delayed the final results, according to Artnz.
• Even before Tuesday's election, Arntz had warned it could take up to three weeks for his staff to complete and double-check the vote tallying process.
• Under state law, the department has until Nov. 30 to certify the election.
• Wednesday's glitch nevertheless was received as a minor public relations setback for the new system approved by San Francisco residents in March 2002.
• Back then, the pioneering experiment was referred to by its catchier synonym, "instant-runoff voting."
• Critics of ranked-choice voting seized upon the latest technological bottleneck as more evidence that the system discourages democracy rather than encourages it as supporters contend.
• One, incumbent Michela Alioto-Pier, was elected outright Tuesday because she earned 61 percent of the first-choice votes.
• We're early adopters of everything, so people here are probably more tolerant and patient of the first hiccups of implementing new technology," said Jason Alderman of the Bay Area Center for Voting Research.

Related Articles

Popular Topics: voting, ranked-choice voting, elections, Diabetes, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Heart disease, Depression, High cholesterol, Osteoporosis, Vaccines, Autism, ADHD, Infertility, Weight loss, Cancer, Alzheimer's, Trans fats, Acrylamides, Fluoride, Mercury	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/002892.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/002892.html">Ranked-choice voting may be the future of elections, but early implementations hit snags</a>
Receive our Natural Health Newsletter for FREE Subscribe now (it's free!) to win. We randomly choose a subscriber each month to send $100 in eco-home products or a RealGoods.com gift certificate (our choice). Plus, you'll receive FREE news, articles and action alerts from NaturalNews.com editors and join over 800,000 monthly readers who report extraordinary health improvements after becoming a subscriber! Receive breaking news alerts on natural health solutions, renewable energy, the environment, global warming and more. Receive a free instant download of our $29 Secret Sources guide that reveals top sources for little-known health and diet solutions.	Your Email Address: Free Subscription Code: Enter the numbers you see: 100% free of charge. Unsubscribe anytime. Absolutely no spam. We respect your email privacy.
Recommended Special Report: Seven Words that can Change the World by Joseph R. Simonetta Read this special report now... "Seven Words That Can Change the World reveals the astonishing, simple truths that have the power to forever transform our world for the better while freeing our minds from the enslavement of limiting beliefs. This is not a text for the simple-minded; it is a guiding philosophy for the mindful, intelligent few who are wise enough to seek out -- and recognize -- the higher simplicities of truly purposeful living." - Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com	More on NaturalNews.com: • Streaming Health Ranger Videos • CounterThink Cartoons • FREE Special Reports • Podcasts