Local Option Legislation

In Texas there is a bill submitted in the state legislature that would allow certain Texas cities to use an alternative voting system if they wish. The bill only mentions Preference Voting (aka Instant Runoff) as a possible alternative voting system to use, but there is a strong chance that the bill can be amended to allow Approval Voting as an option as well. (Thanks to Dennis Lucey of Austin for taking the first swing at drafting the required amendment.)

This bill is not entirely moot since most of the cities in question have an initiative process (even though the state of Texas as a whole does not.) Therefore Approval Voting could be adopted by the will of local voters even if the city officials opposed the idea. Of course we think that enlightened officials won't oppose the move to Approval Voting once they realize the potential advantages in terms of cost savings and other benefits.

More details about the Texas local option bill will be posted here when they become available. Looking for other local option bills put forward by advocates of Instant Runoff and/or specific cities that already have won the right to use Approval Voting if they wish is an important current activity as establishing a track record in public elections is vital for our ultimate success.