Content Categorized with "Home"
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Maine into One At-Large Super District
- Posted: August 23, 2011
- Author(s): Super Districts, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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): Super Districts, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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.
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Update: Lebanon Discusses Adopting Proportional Representation
- Posted: August 22, 2011
- Author(s): Yasmeen Gholmieh, Arab Spring Series
- Categories: Reforms, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Middle East and Africa, Home, Elections Worldwide
The Arab Spring movement has influenced Lebanon differently than many of its neighbors. Unlike nations like Syria and Yemen, there aren't street protests. Rather, the turmoil in the country is within the Parliament, not the people themselves.
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Evolution of voting rights from 1789 to today must continue
- Posted: August 14, 2011
- Author(s): Jo McKeegan, Right to Vote Blog
- Categories: Right to Vote Amendment, Home
Often we sanctify the Founding Fathers and the Constitution that is the bedrock of our republic. But when it comes to voting rights, most of the founders were far off the mark from how we see the right to vote today. Consider the realities of the election of 1789, the first election of the new Congress. The overall number of people who were allowed to, and actually voted, was miniscule in state after state.
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Dawning Digital Democracy
- Posted: August 12, 2011
- Author(s): Krist Novoselic
- Categories: Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Home
If we see the new forms of association as a movement itself, then we are at the beginning of that rare moment of change.
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California Win for National Popular Vote: FairVote Reforms on the Move
- Posted: August 8, 2011
- Categories: National Popular Vote, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Home
California Governor Jerry Brown today signed the National Popular Vote plan for president. Five years after FairVote joined with other reformers to launch the effort, it is halfway to enactment. It is law in states representing 49% of the electoral votes necessary to govern the next presidential election.
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Options for States Seeking Section 5 Preclearance
- Posted: August 3, 2011
- Author(s): Lesley O'Connor
- Categories: Home, Redistricting
Every ten years, after U.S. Census data is released, each state across the country must redraw electoral districts. One state with a history of controversial redistricting plans is Texas. This month, Gov. Rick Perry signed into law the state's new congressional redistricting maps.
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Mitigating the Pernicious Effects of Gerrymandering in North Carolina: The Super-District Alternative
- Posted: July 29, 2011
- Author(s): Super Districts, Jais Mehaji, Rob Richie
- Categories: Home
North Carolina lawmakers have approved one of the nation’s most extreme partisan gerrymanders this year. Four of the state’s seven Democratic incumbents are clearly targeted for defeat. The new map reduces the number of the state’s 13 congressional districts carried by Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential race from eight to only three, with the remaining 10 district all ones where John McCain won at least 55% of the vote. But FairVote's proportional voting plan in super districts would create a level playing field for people of all parties and races.
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Voting Rights Constitutional Amendment Gathers Steam
- Posted: July 22, 2011
- Author(s): Jo McKeegan, Rob Richie, Right to Vote Blog
- Categories: Right to Vote Amendment, Home, FairVote
Nothing is more fundamental to democracy that a fully protected right to vote. That’s why it belongs in the U.S. Constitution.
That's why we so pleased to share good news. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has introduced HJR 28, the Right to Vote amendment. If you want to support HJR 28, you can take action today. Without such a right specifically enumerated in our Constitution, our fundamental voting rights are at risk.
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Big Rhode Island win for better voting & IRV
- Posted: July 15, 2011
- Categories: Ranked Choice Voting, Home
On July 13th, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed H 6176 into law. Introduced on May 19th with the backing of FairVote Rhode Island, the bill passed the state Senate 35-2 and House 70-0. It establishes a voter choice study commission charged with studying ranked choice voting (RCV, or "instant runoff voting) and other options designed to increase voter participation and accountability, uphold majority rule and produce fiscal savings. The commission will issue a report by January 2012. A report by a similar commission in Colorado in 2007 led to a 2008 law allowing all localities to use RCV.
Rhode Island has a history of electing candidates with only plurality support, including the 2010 governor's race won with 36%. RCV would avoid "spoiler" dynamics in such election.
Additional Links:
- FairVote's updated InstantRunoff.com
- Colorado Commission Report from 2007
- Blog post on non-majority winners in 2010