Don't kill IRV

INSTANT-RUNOFF voting appears to be on its deathbed, where it was placed by the anxiety of Elections Department director John Arntz (see "Barely Alive," 8/13/03), the ineptitude of both Arntz and city election vendor Election Systems and Software (as shown by their error-ridden plans and missed deadlines), state regulatory roadblocks (see "Reform Denied," 7/30/03), and the political subterfuge by centrist Democrats who want Gavin Newsom in the mayor's office (see "Who's Fighting Election Reform?," 7/2/03). And the Elections Commission, which could pull the plug on this voter-mandated reform during its Aug. 20 meeting, has enabled all of these malefactions by mouthing platitudes when it should have been cracking the whip.

It's not too late to revive IRV. San Francisco Superior Court Judge James L. Warren should heed the reformers' motion, issue an injunction, and stop the commission from killing this needed reform. And even if he doesn't, the commission should wait until mid September to make a decision, by which time a full hand-count system could be developed or ES&S's automated system could have state approval. Yes, we know everybody is busy with this recall election, but if you can bust your asses to fast-track a right-wing plot to depose our governor, then you can certainly make an honest effort to heed the will of San Francisco voters.