Is Instant Runoff Voting Unconstitutional?

[Matt Collins]

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/02/08/24466.htm

San Francisco voters and a defeated candidate for the Board of Supervisors challenged the city’s “instant runoff” voting system in Federal Court. They claim the system, adopted in 2002, deprives voters of the chance to vote in later rounds by limiting their choices to three, regardless of how many candidates are running.

[demolama]

voting is up to the states... it is therefore up to the state laws to determine how voting is conducted. It has nothing to do with the federal constitution.

This country is so far from its roots... lets all run to the all mighty federal government to make sure whats good for CA is good for us all.

[TastyWheat]

What a terrible argument to say that they're only allowed three choices, per office I assume, when the rest of us get one choice.

[slothman]

Regardless of whether it is legal it is mathematically unsound.
It is the only voting system that is worse than plurality.

[axiomata]

Idiots in San Fran.

The only thing the Constitution says in regards to voting is that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. " And "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government." And "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof"

The claimants have no ground whatsoever.