Things Look This Way to Me

Editorial by J.B. McKinley 6-26-08

The “Plus One” Rule

I just heard an idea that makes a great deal of sense. See what you think of it.

You may remember the fairly quickly set aside brouhaha in the state Legislature a year or so ago when legislators put up a bill as a trial balloon to see if the percentage of town voters needed on a petition to call for a revote could be increased? That percentage is currently five percent and I think the figures of 10 and 20 percent were briefly bandied about down in Montpelier until the loudest voices won, discussion was quashed and the idea of any change died. It became a sort of discussion of disenfranchisement, tradition and pick-a-number logic.

But I think discussion is needed on changing that rule. I think several of our town governments have been exasperated that no one will come out to vote until the issue has already been decided once. Then time passes, the revote is held and despite the outcome of the vote, time, effort and money have been spent. I’m not suggesting that the democratic process be circumvented, just that the majority rule a bit more efficiently if possible.

Anyway, here’s the idea. Make the number fit each individual vote. Make the number of voter signatures needed adjustable to each vote.

 It would work like this: The new school addition bond is voted in, 603 Yes to 599 No. The number needed for a valid revote petition would be 604. That is – the winning number of voters plus one. Therefore another vote, perhaps in small town, might be 25 to 24 at Town Meeting, and the forthcoming petition to revote would need 26 signatures to be valid. Plus one, the plus one rule.

What’s unfair about that? Stands to reason that at least enough voters are going to have turn out to  exceed the first vote’s winning outcome. Certainly all heck would break out with a reversed decision by fewer voters! And, since we can’t know which way a vote will be cast, about all we can do is be fairly certain that enough voters to change the outcome of the first vote are in favor of voting again, right? Isn’t that much more fair than picking a number, any number between one and 100 percent of registered voters and going with that?

The plus one rule would put to rest the fact that in many cases fewer people sign a petition for a revote than initially voted on the winning side of the balloting in question. Who could argue that the plus one number of signatures is too hard to obtain? Darn it they all voted before didn’t they? Seems to me if you can’t get that number you are already in the minority.

Plus one is a heck of an idea.  Go ahead, tell me why I’m wrong. My email address in edit@newsandcitizen.com.