Entries from 2011
- 50 of 128 results
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Innovative Analysis in 2011: Seven Top Election Insights from the FairVote Blog
- Posted: December 29, 2011
- Author(s): Rob Richie
- Categories: Home
Reviewing all 121 entries posted on the FairVote.org blog this year was a reminder about how busy we've been -- and how insightful FairVote staff, colleagues and interns so often are. In this blog I zeroed in on seven insights you may have missed., with excerpts from seven important blogposts.
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Why Settle? A Review of the Conference on “Creating the Voting Rights Act of 2012”
- Posted: November 8, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Home, Reforms, Universal Voter Registration
The electoral reform organization Why Tuesday? held a conference on November 7 to address existing voting barriers, and offered solutions on how to fix an electoral system that is still functioning under 20th century guidelines. Panelists presented information on issues such as restrictive voter ID laws, voter fraud, and ways to modernize the registration process.
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Irish presidential election with instant runoff voting: Voter choice without "spoilers"
- Posted: November 6, 2011
- Author(s): Rob Richie
- Categories: Home, Instant Runoff Voting, Europe, Elections Worldwide
Our political leaders are again rolling the dice with the American people. Rather than pursue statutory solutions to potential electoral landmines, they've left intact a set of electoral rules that aren’t designed for elections where voters have more than two choices. Ireland last month showcased a better way in its elections. As with all other well-established democracies with presidential elections, Ireland elects its president based on a national popular vote. It uses instant runoff voting to uphold the goal of majority rule.
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No More Gerrymanders: California's Commission Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: November 4, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
For the first time in California's history, a Citizens Redistricting Commission has drawn the lines for congressional districts. Despite having taken control away from partisan state legislators, the commission's map has been controversial, both among racial minority groups and Republicans who are concerned about fair repesentation. Most disticts also will not be competitive.
The root of the worst problems associated with redistricting lies with winner-take-all elections, in which 50% + 1 of the vote can elect 100% of the representation. Fair voting systems, relying on a form of proportional representation, are a far better way to achieve public interest objectives and allow all voters to participate in meaningful elections. As part of an ongoing series, FairVote has produced a "super-district" plan designed for elections with a fair voting system. Our California plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while providing fair representation and voter choice for California voters. -
No More Gerrymanders: Georgia's Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: October 31, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Katie P. Kelly, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
Lawmakers in Georgia have recently passed a congressional redistricting plan that gives Republican candidates a strong advantage in 10 of 14 seats and protects nearly all incumbents. There's a better way -- proportional voting systems in multi-seat "super districts." Read the latest in our fair voting plan series.
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NPV Critic Response Series: Spakovsky and the NPV plan
- Posted: October 31, 2011
- Author(s): Katie P. Kelly
- Categories: Home, National Popular Vote
Another installment of the NPV Critic Response Series. This post addresses Hans A. von Spakovsky's recent arguments against the National Popular Vote plan that recently appeared in The Washington Times.
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PR Proposal For California: Interview with Michael Latner
- Posted: October 26, 2011
- Author(s): Krist Novoselic
- Categories: Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, FairVote
Prof. Michael S. Latner recently published a paper this year on proportional representation in California. He summarized the importance of replacing winner-take-all with a fair voting system: "This speaks to the question of genuine reform versus sort of superficial reform. If we had moderate Republicans elected from the most populous areas of the state and more moderate Democrats coming from central valley and the mountain regions, then you would see a genuine change in the partisan composition of the legislature; because they would be representing people who right now aren’t being represented in the legislature. It would be more genuine reform."
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Gallup Poll: National Popular Vote Favored by Majority
- Posted: October 26, 2011
- Author(s): Rob Richie, Katie P. Kelly
- Categories: Home, National Popular Vote
Latest poll on Electoral College versus a national popular vote from Gallup shows that Americans across the major political parties and age groups support a popular vote for president. It’s time to go with the people and support a national popular vote for president – making every vote equal and every vote count.
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NPV Critic Response Series: Sen. Grassley Defends Wrong System
- Posted: October 22, 2011
- Author(s): Katie P. Kelly
- Categories: Home, National Popular Vote
Grassley and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad say that 31 small states would not matter under a national popular vote for president. They are just simply wrong.
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Occupy and Democracy Reforms: A Match Made in Heaven?
- Posted: October 19, 2011
- Author(s): Dorothy Scheeline
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting, Home
Democracy reforms have the unique ability to challenge the status quo in a way that fits in very well with the goals of the Occupy movement. It’s a nonpartisan solution to inequality that challenges corporate influence in politics by changing the system to focus more on the voter and less on the candidate. Changing the structure of our electoral system is the first step to creating a space for more voices and points of view within our political process. Maintaining the system we currently have- a stilted, two-party system with low voter turnout isn’t an option any more.