Content Authored by Drew Spencer
1 - 10 of 20 results
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Primary Elections 2016: Can You Vote?
- Posted: July 9, 2015
- Author(s): Drew Spencer, John Werner
- Categories: Home
When it comes time to vote in the 2016 congressional primary elections, will you be allowed to vote in the primary of your choice? We’ve updated our analysis on every state’s rules for its primary elections: open primaries, closed primaries, “semi-closed” primaries, and the handful of states that do something else entirely. -
Independent Commissions Win in Court - But What's Next?
- Posted: June 29, 2015
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Home
The U.S. Supreme Court made the right decision in upholding independent redistricting commissions, however these commissions still do not resolve the problems that come with single-winner districts. We need Congress to replace our current system with multi-winner districts with ranked choice voting to truly put the power back in the people's hands. -
The Worst Ballot Access Laws in the United States
- Posted: January 13, 2015
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Home
Today, we are proud to publish this list of the 19 worst ballot access laws in the United States, authored by Richard Winger. -
A Response to Deceptive Claims About Draft Academic Paper on Ranked Choice Voting and Turnout
- Posted: August 5, 2014
- Author(s): Drew Spencer, Drew Spencer
Why one anti-ranked choice voting agitator's mischaracterization of a withdrawn draft paper purporting to show that RCV leads to declining turnout should not be taken seriously.
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The Role of Ranked Choice Voting in 2013
- Posted: November 29, 2013
- Author(s): Rob Richie, Drew Spencer
- Categories: Ranked Choice Voting, Reforms, Research & Analysis, Home, FairVote
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.
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Top Two (With a Twist) for Oregon?
- Posted: October 18, 2013
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Ranked Choice Voting, Reforms, Research & Analysis, Home, FairVote
In 2008, Oregon voters rejected a ballot initiative for a Top Two system by a nearly two-to-one vote. In 2014, Top Two may be back on the ballot, but this time tied to a famous Oregonian name and with a twist.
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The Case for Ranked Choice Ballots for Military and Overseas Voters
- Posted: August 14, 2013
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Ranked Choice Voting, Home, FairVote
States and local jurisdictions that use runoff elections with sequential balloting seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to respecting the votes of their deployed military and other absentee voters. Ranked choice voting gives these places the best of both worlds.
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Top Two in Washington State
- Posted: July 18, 2013
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Ranked Choice Voting, Home, All Reports
Update: This report has now been updated to include additional analysis from the results of the 2012 general election, more details on FairVote's proposed solution: Top Four with ranked choice voting, and analysis based on comparison to California's use of Top Two in 2012.
The Top Two primary system has drawn increasing attention as a way to reform our elections. Rather than have parties nominate candidates who then face off in a general election, it establishes two rounds of voting: the first a "preliminary" to reduce the field to two candidates and the second a final runoff between the top two finishers. Candidates pick their own party label, and that label has no impact on which candidates advance.
Louisiana for years was the only state using a form of the system for both state and federal elections. Washington State started using the system in 2008. California implemented it in 2012, and Arizona voters may adopt it in a November 2012 ballot measure. This report looks at the impact of the Top Two primary in Washington State in the two and a half election cycles in which it has been used. The report focuses on state legislative elections, but also summarizes results to date in congressional and statewide elections.
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FairVote's Fix for Top Two in California
- Posted: June 18, 2013
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Ranked Choice Voting, Research & Analysis, Home
FairVote has consistently been at the forefront of critical analysis of Top Two. Now, we are proud to announce a new Policy Perspective detailing a simple reform that could help to resolve nearly all of Top Two's maladies in a way that both accommodates the goals of Top Two supporters and the criticisms of its opponents.
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The Next Step in Expanding Democracy?
- Posted: May 20, 2013
- Author(s): Drew Spencer
- Categories: Home, Voting Rights
Recently, suffrage was expanded in Takoma Park, Maryland to include voters of ages 16 and 17. At the same time, New York City considered allowing documented residents to vote in local elections irrespective of citizenship status.