27 July 2022 — 1042 mdt
Is Montana’s Republican Party more committed
to majority rule than Montana’s Democratic Party?
By James Conner
One might draw that conclusion after comparing the platforms of the two parties. The 2022 Montana Republican platform explicitly states that elections should be won by a majority of the votes cast.
Election by Majority
Montana would best be served by elected officials who are supported by a majority of those voting. [Page 8.]
The Montana GOP’s 2018 platform contained identical language. And the party’s 2016 platform contained that language and more.
Election by Majority
Montana should be served by elected officials who are supported by a majority of those voting, not a minority. Therefore, the Montana election process should be changed so that election by majority in the general election is accomplished by the adoption of a quick runoff system so that if no candidate receives a majority vote a runoff election is held between the top two candidates. [Page 7.]
The platform of Montana’s Democratic party is silent on the subject.
Montana’s constitution, Article IV, Section 5, requires only a plurality of the vote to win an election.
Result of elections. In all elections held by the people, the person or persons receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected.
In an election with more than two candidates, such as the 2022 primary elections for Flathead county commissioner and District 5 PSC commissioner, candidates can win with less than 40 percent of the vote. In some elections, less than 30 percent can be enough to win.
Requiring a majority ensures that the winner enjoys the most popular support of all the candidates on the ballot — but if the first place candidate receives less than a majority after the initial count, and a ranked choice voting system is not in place, a subsequent runoff election between the top two vote getters is required.
Several states, mostly in the south, require runoff elections. Two states, Maine and Alaska, now used ranked choice “instant runoff” voting for their general elections.
Requiring a majority to win is a good idea. In the 2021 legislative session, Rep. Kelly Kortum (D HD-65, Bozeman), introduced a baby step ranked choice voting bill that got shot down. Why is his effort to require a majority not a plank in his party’s platform?