Vashon-Maury Island Community Council Elections
Using a computer program called OpenSTV (stv.sourceforge.net), 858 Islanders elected nine members of the Vashon Maury Island Community Council Board Nov. 7. Results were announced Nov. 10. Elected, in order of ranking, are Jennie Hodgson, Jim English, Jack Barbash, Dan Asher, Susan White, Jean Bosch, Marilyn Omey, Jolene Lamb and Dennis Saunders. Mark Meyers, present clerk of the board, was not elected.Nominations and Elections ad hoc committee Chair Jay Becker said the program found the six top ranked candidates on the first pass through the data and took eight more passes for the rest.
Thirty voters sent in or hand delivered absentee ballots.
Ranked choice voting provides that no vote is wasted when a top ranked candidate has more than enough for election. Also, ties are more easily revolved. A portion of surplus votes go to lower ranked candidates who didn't have enough to be elected with the first pass.
A detailed report on this new-to-the-island voting method is to be posted on the VMICC.org web pages sometime after the Nov. 20 all-Island Council meeting at Courthouse Square.
