Press

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  • E-Newsletter November 7, 2007

  • E-Newsletter November 1, 2007

  • Nomination by Attrition

    Election Day in America is a day that arrives with some conflicting emotional baggage. On one hand, we can be filled with pride that we live in a country founded on the idea that the people should be able to decide their own fate, one in which every person has a say in the way their government is run. On the other hand, we are disappointed that relatively few of us take advantage of the voting franchise. We also tout majority rule as the basis for democracy, then use voting methods that either allow majorities to go unrepresented or make our turnout problem even worse.

  • FairVote Announces Upgrade Democracy Video Contest Finalists!

    • Posted: October 22, 2007
    • Categories: FairVote

    Filming has wrapped, the submissions are in, and we at FairVote are proud to announce our ten finalists for the Upgrade Democracy Video Contest! We asked people around the country to tell us what they think democracy should look like for a chance to win $2000 and a trip to Washington, DC to receive their award at the FairVote 15th Anniversary Gala, November 10, 2007.

  • E-Newsletter October 19, 2007

  • Instant Runoff Voting a Success in Cary, N.C. Pilot Election

    On October 9, Cary became the first city in the U.S. South to use instant runoff voting (IRV). An exit poll designed by North Carolina State University professor Michael Cobb found that nearly three in four voters preferred the new ranked voting system over their old runoff system; and only 4% found it difficult to understand. Used in a rapidly growing number of American cities, IRV generates a majority winner in one election by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

  • FairVote to Host Major Pro-Democracy Conference

    • Posted: October 17, 2007
    • Categories: FairVote

    FairVote, along with leaders of the country’s top electoral reform and media reform groups, are giving democracy advocates the chance to get informed, get involved, and get connected at the Claim Democracy 2007 conference, November 9th to 11th at the University of the District of Columbia.

  • Youth pre-registration picks up steam

    • Posted: October 14, 2007
    • Categories: FairVote

    Scores of Rhode Islanders called their local representatives last week urging them to over-ride the veto of HB 6215, a bill that allows 16 and 17 year olds to pre-register to vote. FairVote RI urged Rhode Islanders to contact their legislators this week, and ask them to vocalize their support for an over-ride of the Governor’s veto.

  • The Senate Loses its Cool

    In the grand scheme of history, allowing voters to directly elect U.S. Senators is a new, hip concept. Before the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures, leaving only members of the House serving at the will of actual voters. Perennial presidential candidate Alan Keyes may oppose the amendment, but it would be something of a shock if this particular electoral fad - and important advance for democracy - did not endure.

  • Of Campaigns and Crosswords

    Elections are like Scrabble. Winning requires strategy, a command of language and a sense of your opponent's weaknesses, there are very often more than two players, and it doesn't hurt to pull a seven-letter bingo from out of nowhere for a 50-point bonus (wait, I think that last one is only in Scrabble).