FairVote Blog
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No More Gerrymanders: California's Commission Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
For the first time in California's history, a Citizens Redistricting Commission has drawn the lines for congressional districts. Despite having taken control away from partisan state legislators, the commission's map has been controversial, both among racial minority groups and Republicans who are concerned about fair repesentation. Most disticts also will not be competitive.
The root of the worst problems associated with redistricting lies with winner-take-all elections, in which 50% + 1 of the vote can elect 100% of the representation. Fair voting systems, relying on a form of proportional representation, are a far better way to achieve public interest objectives and allow all voters to participate in meaningful elections. As part of an ongoing series, FairVote has produced a "super-district" plan designed for elections with a fair voting system. Our California plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while providing fair representation and voter choice for California voters. -
No More Gerrymanders: Georgia's Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
Lawmakers in Georgia have recently passed a congressional redistricting plan that gives Republican candidates a strong advantage in 10 of 14 seats and protects nearly all incumbents. There's a better way -- proportional voting systems in multi-seat "super districts." Read the latest in our fair voting plan series.
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NPV Critic Response Series: Spakovsky and the NPV plan
by Katie P. Kelly // October 31, 2011 //Another installment of the NPV Critic Response Series. This post addresses Hans A. von Spakovsky's recent arguments against the National Popular Vote plan that recently appeared in The Washington Times.
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PR Proposal For California: Interview with Michael Latner
by Krist Novoselic // October 26, 2011 //Prof. Michael S. Latner recently published a paper this year on proportional representation in California. He summarized the importance of replacing winner-take-all with a fair voting system: "This speaks to the question of genuine reform versus sort of superficial reform. If we had moderate Republicans elected from the most populous areas of the state and more moderate Democrats coming from central valley and the mountain regions, then you would see a genuine change in the partisan composition of the legislature; because they would be representing people who right now aren’t being represented in the legislature. It would be more genuine reform."
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Gallup Poll: National Popular Vote Favored by Majority
by Katie P. Kelly, Rob Richie // October 26, 2011 //Latest poll on Electoral College versus a national popular vote from Gallup shows that Americans across the major political parties and age groups support a popular vote for president. It’s time to go with the people and support a national popular vote for president – making every vote equal and every vote count.
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NPV Critic Response Series: Sen. Grassley Defends Wrong System
by Katie P. Kelly // October 22, 2011 //Grassley and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad say that 31 small states would not matter under a national popular vote for president. They are just simply wrong.
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Occupy and Democracy Reforms: A Match Made in Heaven?
by Dorothy Scheeline // October 19, 2011 //Democracy reforms have the unique ability to challenge the status quo in a way that fits in very well with the goals of the Occupy movement. It’s a nonpartisan solution to inequality that challenges corporate influence in politics by changing the system to focus more on the voter and less on the candidate. Changing the structure of our electoral system is the first step to creating a space for more voices and points of view within our political process. Maintaining the system we currently have- a stilted, two-party system with low voter turnout isn’t an option any more.
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Low Voter Turnout Strikes Again: Louisiana Gubernatorial Race
by Christina Grier // October 25, 2011 //Low voter turnout continues to plague the country. On October 22, the state of Louisiana held statewide elections where voter turnout was barely 30% in the gubernatorial race, and even lower for some other senate and house races. Many are attributing the low turnout to a lack of competitiveness in the races, many having been uncontested. Such a lack in competition takes away choices for the voter, and produces elections where outcomes are predetermined before voters have cast their ballots.
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No More Gerrymanders: Illinois' Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
Check out our latest findings in the fair voting plan series. Illinois goes from 14 gerrymandered congressional districts to 4 super-districts.
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Presidential Tracker: "Show Me the Money"
by Katie P. Kelly, Presidential Tracker // October 14, 2011 //Fundraising played a large role in the events of the past month, but swing state visits are also gearing up. Check out this update for an analysis of the latest visits and a color-coded map state events. The disparity between state visits just may surprise you.