Entries from September, 2010
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Virginia Governor takes action to improve voting rights
- Posted: September 28, 2010
- Author(s): Jo McKeegan
- Categories: Home, Right to Vote Amendment, Felon Disenfranchisement
The process of removing the right to vote from a person convicted of a crime was invented by the Romans and dubbed “civil death”. It is a process that several states in America still implement today, grounded in the disturbing fact that the U.S. Constitution does not provide a citizenship right to vote.
In most states, a person who has completed serving a felony conviction is allowed to register to vote. Other states restrict this right, and in a few remaining states like Virginia, this punishment is a lifelong ban unless a waiver is granted by the governor. Anyone moving into such a state with a past felony conviction will be breaking the law if they vote, even if coming from a state where they had full suffrage rights.
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From the "Non-Majority Rule" Desk: Undemocratic Rules Produce Undemocratic Results -- Even With Majority Victories
- Posted: September 28, 2010
- Author(s): The Non-Majority Rule Desk, Chris Marchsteiner
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting
This week at the Non-Majority Rule desk I’m going to focus on lessons from two important developments in statewide races: the U.S. Senate race in Alaska and the race for governor in New York. Recent developments in the two states’ races demonstrate another aspect of the dangers of plurality voting: How it can shortcut democracy even when majority victories are ultimately produced.
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Brazil's Presidential Hopefuls Face Runoff, National Congress Needs Reform
- Posted: October 14, 2010
- Author(s): Andy Andrianantoandro
On October 31st, a runoff will take place in Brazil’s presidential election. The leading candidate, Dilma Rousseff of the Worker’s Party (PT), failed to gain the 50% majority needed during the first round on October 3rd with just 47%.
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Federal Election Integrity Act Coming to a House Vote
- Posted: September 28, 2010
- Author(s): Jo McKeegan
- Categories: Home
Even the most die-hard Yankee’s fan would see something wrong with Derek Jeter acting as umpire in a game he’s playing in as shortstop. HR 512, the Fair Election Integrity Act, is designed to prevent this in the context of American elections.
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From the "Non-Majority Rule" Desk: Murkowski's Write-in Candidacy and Other Significant Third Party Candidates
- Posted: September 22, 2010
- Author(s): The Non-Majority Rule Desk, Chris Marchsteiner
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting
Third party and independent candidates continue to have a major impact on several statewide races for governor and U.S. Senate. Indeed, there are 8 states where candidates are polling at more than 10% - the latest being Lisa Murkowski, the sitting U.S. Senator from Alaska who lost her Republican primary, but who now is pursuing a write-in candidacy. At least one race might join them – New York, where Rick Lazio lost the Republican primary, but remains the Conservative Party nominee. Voters certainly seem hungry for more options – a Gallup poll found that 58% support a strong third party in the United States. Here’s a rundown of some of the week’s news from the “non-majority rule” desk.
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Non-Majority Winners and Partisan Manipulation in the Gubernatorial Races and Primaries
- Posted: September 15, 2010
- Author(s): Chris Marchsteiner
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting
Building on previous blogs about non-majority rules in primaries and prospective ones in this November’s general elections, FairVote plans a weekly update from the “non-majority rule desk” – with an understanding that there’s a solution available and being put into practice in a growing number of communities: instant runoff voting.
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From the "Non-Majority Rule" Desk: Independent Presidential Candidates, the Spoiler Effect, and Party Betrayal
- Posted: October 5, 2010
- Author(s): The Non-Majority Rule Desk, Chris Marchsteiner
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting
It was another notable week here at the non-majority desk, including nationally prominent ruminations about third parties and independents, including Thomas Friedman of the New York Times predicting an independent presidential bid in 2012 and FiveThirtyEight.com's Nate Silver suggesting such a campaign could succeed.
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Re Registering to Vote After Moving Out of State
- Posted: October 4, 2010
- Author(s): Jo McKeegan
- Categories: Universal Voter Registration, FairVote
A practical question arose this afternoon: how long after you move should you change your voter registration? Obviously, a voter should be registered where s/he actually lives and gets mail, but when should the voter make the switch? Can you wait a week? A month? A year?
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Without Majority Rule, Partisans Game the Vote -- Supressing Voter Choice
- Posted: September 8, 2010
- Author(s): The Non-Majority Rule Desk, Chris Marchsteiner
- Categories: Instant Runoff Voting
2010 is a particularly important election. 37 states will elect governors to run their states – often with national implications through the central role governors typically will have in redistricting before the 2012 elections. Control of both the U.S. House and Senate are in play, with the outcome potentially hinging on votes in a handful of states.
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Making Constitution Day a Celebration of Representative Democracy
- Posted: September 16, 2010
- Author(s): Jo McKeegan, Emily Hellman
When naming important holidays, Constitution Day will not make most people’s shortlist. But maybe, it should.
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