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FairVote Minnesota is a co-defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Minneapolis Voters Alliance challenging the constitutionality of instant runoff voting (IRV) and right of Minneapolis, as a home-rule charter city, to use IRV under Minnesota election law.

Court arguments will be heard October 8 at 8:30 am in Hennepin County District Court by Judge McGunnigle.

The hearing is open to the public and will be held in room 1355 of the Government Center, 300 So. 6th St., Minneapolis.  There is a lot of interest in this case and seats may fill quickly.  If you wish to attend, arrive early to get a seat.

The Judge has up to 90 days to issue a summary judgment, but an expedited opinion could come as early as the end of November.

Until the constitutional issue is settled, progress in implementing IRV in Minneapolis and getting IRV on the ballot in Saint Paul and elsewhere in Minnesota will be impeded. Similar challenges to IRV have been unsuccessful in other states and we are confident the legality of IRV will be upheld in Minnesota as well.

James Dorsey of the Fredrikson & Byron law firm and Keith Halleland of the Halleland, Lewis, Nilan and Johnson law firm are donating their services for legal defense.

FFI: Contact Jeanne Massey, jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org; 763-807-2550.