Robert Porter, Ferndale Mayor, Supports Instant Runoff Voting In Ferndale

Robert Porter, Mayor of Ferndale, Michigan, espoused the benefits of Instant Runoff Voting at the city's June 14, 2004 council meeting:

"...you'll find that most of the European nations use IRV and the reason they do that is they get a higher turnout in voting in the 80-90% ranges where we're coming in with 20% and unfortunately not necessarily representing our people. That's why it's worth looking at." Porter explained that his own research on areas that use IRV showed "dramatic increases in the voting because people felt that their vote had the opportunity to count."

Mayor Porter add to his previous statement at the city's August 9, 2004 council meeting :

“I myself looked at this and said it's done something very positive in other areas. It's stimulated an 80, 85% voter turnout where we're struggling with 17 and 18% voter turnout in our city."

With these statements, Porter joined many other notable local and national leaders in endorsing this advanced system of elections.