Content Authored by Austin Plier

1 - 7 of 7 results

• What could an independent run by Jim Webb mean for 2016?

  • Posted: October 23, 2015
  • Author(s): Austin Plier
  • Categories: Home

  

  Former Virginia U.S. Senator Jim Webb ended his bid for the Democratic nomintion for president, but left the door open for an independent run. Because our current voting system breaks down when more than two candidates run, Webb wouldn't need too much support--especially with his roots in swing-state Virginia--to have an impact on the 2016 presidential race. 

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• How Judges Evaluated Reforms at Democracy Slam 2015

  • Posted: April 23, 2015
  • Author(s): Austin Plier

  

  National Democracy Slam 2015 offered in-depth and innovative exchanges of ideas and evaluation of democratic reforms. In he final "Democracy Slam," moderated by NBC's Chuck Todd, a high-powered panel of judges evaluated six bold ideas -- see which reforms they and the audience thought would have the biggest impact on core criteria of well-functioning democracy.

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• Hyattsville Extends Voting Rights to 16 and 17 Year Olds

  • Posted: January 6, 2015
  • Author(s): Austin Plier
  • Categories: Home

  

  The Hyattsville City Council voted to extend voting rights to 16 and 17 year old residents in city elections after a well-attended public hearing on the issue. Hyattsville became the second municipality in the U.S. to lower their voting age.

   

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• RCV to the Rescue: Non-Majority Winners in Gubernatorial Races

  • Posted: November 6, 2014
  • Author(s): Austin Plier

  

   

  In 10 of the 36 gubernatorial elections that took place during the 2014 midterm elections, the winner was elected without support from a majority of voters. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) would solve this problem, and allow voters to vote their conscience without worrying about the consequences of a "spoiler effect." 

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• Low and Unequal Turnout in Montgomery Co. (MD) Strengthens Case for Right to Vote Task Force Recommendations

  • Posted: October 29, 2014
  • Author(s): Zack Avre, Austin Plier

  

  Analysis of voter turnout in Montgomery County, MD, illustrates the disparities in turnout among various age groups as well as significantly decreased participation in primaries compared to general elections. These findings strengthen the case for changes recommended by the County's Right To Vote Task Force.

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• It's Time for a Constitutional Right to Vote, and a Truce in the Voting Wars

  • Posted: October 23, 2014
  • Author(s): Austin Plier
  • Categories: Right to Vote Amendment

  

  As the voting wars continue to be waged in courts across the nation, the case for a constitutional right to vote has never been so strong.

   

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• Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling Highlights Need for a Constitutional Right to Vote

  • Posted: August 11, 2014
  • Author(s): , Austin Plier
  • Categories: Right to Vote Amendment

  The Wisconsin Supreme Court's Decision to uphold the state's controversial voter ID law illustrates the need for an explicit, individual Right to Vote in the U.S. Constitution.

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