Entries from August, 2010

- 9 of 9 results

• Is 23% enough to be an Arizona Congressman? Non-majority rules in August 25 primaries in Arizona, Florida and Vermont

  • Posted: August 26, 2010
  • Author(s): The Non-Majority Rule Desk, Cathy Le
  • Categories: Instant Runoff Voting, Reforms

  This month I have blogged on state primaries held on August 3rd and August 10th about a serious, if often overlooked problem in our politics: non-majority winners in primary elections held with plurality voting.

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• Reasons to Reconsider Plurality Voting

  • Posted: August 18, 2010
  • Author(s): Cathy Le
  • Categories: Instant Runoff Voting, Reforms

  Nominating contests for congressional and gubernatorial races often attract many candidates running to be the nominee for their respective party. When more than two candidates compete under a plurality voting system, elections can be won with only a minority percent of the vote and top contenders or ‘spoilers’ can end up splitting the vote, handing the election to a weak nominee.  

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• Why the Condorcet criterion is less important than it seems

  • Posted: August 10, 2010
  • Author(s): Alec Slatky
  • Categories: Instant Runoff Voting

  A frequent criticism of instant runoff voting is the fact candidates who beat all others in head-to-head competitions can actually lose.  But if such candidates win all the time, there would be unintended consequences.

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• Voting Rights Act turns 45

  • Posted: August 6, 2010
  • Author(s): Right to Vote Blog, Tom Sanchez
  • Categories: Home, Elections for U.S. Senate Vacancies, D.C. Voting Rights

  Although the Voting Rights Act turns 45, we still have much ground to cover in the effort to obtain an constitutional Right to Vote.

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• California's Proposition 14: Democracy Enhanced or Denied?

  • Posted: August 5, 2010
  • Author(s): Patrick Withers
  • Categories: Home

  Does California's Prop 14 live up to its goal of enhancing California elections?  No, says FairVote.  However, there are easy fixes to make California election law more open and representative.

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• Mayoral Elections in Paris: Lessons from its Electoral College-type system

  • Posted: August 9, 2010
  • Author(s): Jules Leconte
  • Categories: Home

  Although France elects its president in high turnout national popular vote elections, its three largest cities, Paris, Marseille and Lyon elect their mayors in a way that is strikingly similar to how American presidents are elected.

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• Michigan Primary Results Reveal Flaws in Winner-Take-All System

  • Posted: August 5, 2010
  • Author(s): Cathy Le
  • Categories: Instant Runoff Voting, Reforms

  The August 3rd primary in Michigan had several competitive races. In nomination contests for 15 U.S. House seats and the governor’s race, six of the winners will advance despite falling short of a majority of the vote in the primary.

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• Democracy, Schools, and the Internet...Oh, My!

  • Posted: August 5, 2010
  • Author(s): Rebecca Guterman
  • Categories: Learning Democracy

  In the midst of election season, there are many ways to get youth and soon-to-be voters involved and interested in the poltiical climate and democracy.

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• Australia to Hold National Instant Runoff Voting Elections on August 21

  • Posted: August 5, 2010
  • Author(s): Cathy Le
  • Categories: Instant Runoff Voting

  Just three weeks after becoming Australia’s first female prime minister, Julia Gillard announced national elections would be held on August 21, 2010.  

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