Entries Categorized with "Proportional Voting"
- 10 of 155 results
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No More Gerrymanders: Missouri's Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: March 15, 2012
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Rob Richie, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Alternative, Choice Voting/Proportional Representation, Proportional Voting, Redistricting
Lawmakers in Missouri have recently passed a congressional redistricting plan that gives Republican candidates a strong advantage in 6 of 8 seats and protects nearly all incumbents. There's a better way--fair voting systems in multi-seat "super-districts." Read the latest in our fair voting plan series.
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No More Gerrymanders: Congressional Representation in the Seven At-Large States
- Posted: January 3, 2012
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Alternative, Choice Voting/Proportional Representation, Proportional Voting, Redistricting, All Reports
Though spared the controversies of congressional redistricting, winner-take-all rules still plague the seven at-large states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming). Nowhere are the shortcomings of our voting system more acute than in at-large winner-take-all races, where one individual is - rather astonishingly - responsible for representing the political and demographic diversity of an entire state. Read our latest critique of winner-take-all elections and our analysis of congressional elections in these at-large states.
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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 Alternative, Proportional Voting, 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. -
Tunisians Hold Arab Spring’s First Vote
- Posted: November 4, 2011
- Author(s): Arab Spring Series, Hüseyin Koyuncu
- Categories: Home, Proportional Voting
The election is seen as a democratic success for new Tunisia, with some 4.1 million registered voters voting to select the members of the Constituent Assembly – using a method of proportional representation that ensured nearly every participant elected someone, and no one faction earned the winner-take-all power to dominate other factions. Tunisians have fulfilled their duty peacefully and with great pride, whether in the capital or in provincial towns. European Union observers saluted the election’s “transparency.” Clearly, the strong desire of Tunisians to be governed by democratically elected authorities guided the electoral process.
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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 Alternative, Proportional Voting, 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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Occupy and Democracy Reforms: A Match Made in Heaven?
- Posted: October 19, 2011
- Author(s): Dorothy Scheeline
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting, Home, Proportional Voting
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.
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No More Gerrymanders: Illinois' Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: October 19, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Alternative, Choice Voting/Proportional Representation, Redistricting, Proportional Voting
Check out our latest findings in the fair voting plan series. Illinois goes from 14 gerrymandered congressional districts to 4 super-districts.
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No More Gerrymanders: Ohio's GOP-centric Plan versus the FairVote Super District Alternative
- Posted: October 13, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Alternative, Redistricting, Proportional Voting
Controversies over redistricting in Ohio provide the latest evidence of the failure of winner-take-all, single member district rules. Read our latest addition in the fair voting blog series.
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Maine into One At-Large Super District
- Posted: August 23, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Super Districts
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Alternative, Redistricting, Proportional Voting
Lawmakers in Maine are fiercely debating how to redraw the boundaries of the state's two U.S. congressional districts in the wake of the 2010 Census. Both political parties seek new maps favorable to their candidates, a process that could affect not only the current 2-0 Democratic U.S. House majority, but possibly also an Electoral College vote at the presidential level. FairVote has produced an alternative "super district" map designed for election with a proportional voting system. Our plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while guaranteeing competitive voter choice and fairer representation.
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Connecticut into One At-Large Super District
- Posted: August 23, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Super Districts
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Alternative, Redistricting, Proportional Voting
Lawmakers in Connecticut are debating how to redraw the boundaries of the state's five U.S. congressional districts in the wake of the 2010 Census. Fully in control of the state legislature, the Democratic Party is expected to push through a new map that protects its incumbents. Such controversies are products of our winner-take-all elections, in which 50.01% of voters can elect 100% of representation. Winner-take-all rules marginalize like-minded voters of a political minority no matter their relative numerical strength, thereby depressing turnout and providing inadequate representation. As part of an ongoing project, FairVote has produced a "super district" map designed for Connecticut elections with a proportional voting system. Our proportional plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while guaranteeing fairer representation.