If you want to be mayor of Burlington, you should have to earn more than half of the votes.

That’s the way our system is today. But this March, a ballot question aims to change that.

Vote NO on Question #5.

Question #5 takes us backwards by allowing a candidate to win with only 40% of the vote. That undermines democracy.

Question #5 also gets rid of instant-runoff voting, but doesn’t replace it with any kind of run-off voting if a candidate receives between 40% and 50% of the votes. If IRV were the real issue in the campaign, why not replace it with runoff voting?

Question #5 is wrong for Burlington. If you agree with us that 40% doesn’t cut it, please join our grassroots campaign by volunteering, posting a lawn sign, writing a letter to the editor, donating, registering to vote, and voting no.

Just to be clear, we need more than 50% of the vote to win for this ballot question, not just 40%.

We support majority rule

“I oppose question #5 because we need to uphold majority rule. We shouldn’t measure our rules based on who wins and who loses in any one election. I support a fair election system that upholds the principle of majority rule. The 40% winner system proposed by Question 5 violates that principle. Please join me in voting no on Question 5.”
- Andy Montroll, 2009 Democratic nominee for mayor

“Burlington took an important step forward for a stronger democracy when the voters adopted IRV and its majority requirement for electing a Mayor. We’ve got a system that works and we should keep it. I will be voting ‘NO’ on repeal question #5 this Town Meeting Day.”
- Senator Bernie Sanders

Opponents of Question #5 include Champlain Valley League of Women Voters, VPIRG, Common Cause and many others.

The growing list of Burlington elected leaders who are opposing Question #5 includes:

Click here for a list of other individuals who oppose Question #5 »

50% Matters | Helen Hossley, Campaign Manager | 660-9639 | 325 Ethan Allen Parkway, Burlington, VT 05408 | contact@50percentmatters.org