When Aspen voters approved instant runoff voting in November 2007, they did so with the expectation that it would make the election process more convenient and less expensive.

But based on the haggling and wrangling of late, it has been anything but convenient.

The system is supposed to debut in the city’s May elections, but it’s unknown what method will be used. There will be a a public meeting at noon on Friday, Feb. 27, at Aspen City Hall, to discuss the two leading options being entertained by the Instant Run-off Voting Committee. On March 9, the City Council is expected to vote on the preferred voting method.

But first things first.

Before this whole process can unravel any more, we encourage incumbent Mayor Mick Ireland and incumbent Councilman Jack Johnson to remove themselves from the committee. The appearance of a conflict of interest, especially when the two are up for re-election in May, when the system debuts, is indisputable.

We have no reason to believe either Johnson or Ireland is scheming to implement a run-off method that will benefit them in the election, if that’s even possible. In fact, each one prefers a different method.

But by virtue of their presence on the committee, the appearance of conflict is enough for each one to step down. It has created enough of a distraction that a system has yet to be determined, and if there happens to be a voting snafu in the May elections that benefit Johnson and Ireland, each will be put on the defense.

The majority of Aspen residents voted in November 2007 to eliminate runoff elections, which have required a June election if council candidates didn’t receive 45 percent plus one and if the mayor didn’t get 50 percent plus one.

Enter instant runoff voting, or IRV, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. In an IRV election, if no candidate receives a majority of voters’ first choices, then the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated and ballots cast for that candidate are redistributed to the surviving candidates according to each voter’s indicated preference. That process is repeated until one candidate obtains a majority.

There are a number of ways to get to the final number, and two methods are now being debated. While task force members are doing the heavy lifting, we encourage residents to attend Friday’s meeting to get a better understanding of a complicated issue.

The Aspen Times Editorial Board consists of Rick Carroll, Naomi Havlen, Su Lum, Bob Ward and Jenna Weatherred. Lum, who also sits on the Instant Run-off Voting Committee, did not have input on this editorial.