Voter Error in Top Two Primary Can Be Far Higher than in RCV Races
Posted on What's New Rob Richie, Eli Hanson-metayer on August 12, 2014
You might think that nothing could be easier than voting for one candidate in an election, but analysis of voter error in California’s Top Two primary system shows surprisingly high rates of invalidated ballots in such vote-for-one elections; much higher than the normal error rate in elections conducted by ranked choice voting.
Read moreDetails Matter: The Oregon Top Two Twist
Posted on What's New Drew Spencer Penrose, Rob Richie on August 11, 2014
This year, another Top Two elections proposal will appear on the Oregon ballot, but this time with an unusual detail that may have a big impact.
Read moreFairVote Proposes Solutions to Florida's Congressional Redistricting Dilemma in 2014
Posted on What's New Rob Richie on August 07, 2014
Florida is facing an electoral quandary as two of its congressional districts have been found to violate the state constitution, and the legislature is redrawing the maps as November elections loom. The legislature does not want to use the new map in 2014, but FairVote's analysis outlines two plans that could resolve the crisis. The better of these plans would also improve the representation of Florida voters in the process.
Read moreBipartisan Push to Restore Voting Rights
Posted on What's New Duncan Hosie, Rob Richie, Dania N. Korkor on July 30, 2014
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rand Paul (R-KY) unveiled a bipartisan approach to restore voting rights to citizens with felony convictions.
Read moreMajor County Shows Leadership on Ways to Boost Participation
Posted on What's New Rob Richie, Jessica Kincaid, Patricia Hart on July 21, 2014
The Montgomery County Right to Vote Task Force issued its final report and recommendations, affirming the Council's commitment to increasing voter participation, improving election practices, and supporting an affirmative right to vote.
Read moreWhat's the Matter with California Turnout?
Posted on What's New Duncan Hosie, Rob Richie on July 08, 2014
California experienced record low voter turnout in the recent primary election, but adopting FairVote's four electoral reforms can help increase participation.
Read moreThe Role of Ranked Choice Voting in 2013
Posted on What's New Drew Spencer Penrose, Rob Richie on November 29, 2013
If you followed the local elections and the special elections that took place in 2013, you probably heard some stories about ranked choice voting - and there's a good chance they were positive.
Read moreVote Like Brad & Angelina: Rank Best Picture Choices
Posted on What's New Rob Richie on January 26, 2013
When Barack Obama Was a Leader in Seeking Fair Voting Systems
Posted on What's New Drew Spencer Penrose, Rob Richie on December 20, 2012
President Barack Obama has a lot on his mind these days, but the state of our democracy remains critical. Fortunately, judging by Obama's record in the Illinois Senate --where he was the prime sponsor of legislation to advance cumulative voting and instant runoff voting - we haven't had a president as informed about good ideas for taking on electoral reform since James Madison and the founding generation.
Read moreUnderstanding the RCV Election Results in District 10
Posted on Research Reports Rob Richie, Steven Hill on November 23, 2010
The Board of Supervisors race in District 10 was an unprecedented race in San Francisco’s seven-year history of using ranked choice voting (the first RCV elections took place in 2004). It featured 21 candidates, no incumbent and no obvious front runners. That resulted in an election in which the winning candidate, Malia Cohen, barely edged out the competition in an exceptionally close race.Given the parameters of this race, RCV functioned smoothly to produce a winner that was preferred by the most voters. It fostered a degree of coalition-building as candidates and voters used the ranked ballots effectively, and unlike other races this race was substantially free of negative, mudslinging attacks as the multi-candidate field focused on seeking the second and third rankings from the supporters of other candidates.
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