FairVote Blog
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NPV Critic Response Series: Big Cities Won't Rule
by Katie P. Kelly // October 14, 2011 //Recent arguments against the National Popular Vote plan for presidential elections have claimed that power would shift to big cities, thereby favoring Democrats. FairVote explains why these claims are wrong, backed by no facts, and based on false assumptions.
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No More Gerrymanders: Ohio's GOP-centric Plan versus the FairVote Super District Alternative
Controversies over redistricting in Ohio provide the latest evidence of the failure of winner-take-all, single member district rules. Read our latest addition in the fair voting blog series.
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A guide to French Socialists' presidential primary
by Hüseyin Koyuncu // October 7, 2011 //With less than one week until the first round of the socialist primaries on October 9, the haziness presently reigns about voter participation in the first-ever open primary.. According to a poll conducted by CSA (Conseil Social Analyse) 67% of supporters of the Socialist party (PS) admit to not knowing on which issues to vote during the primaries, which are to take place on October 9th and 16th.
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Voter Fraud: Let's Modernize Voter Registration First
by Christina Grier // October 13, 2011 //A conference hosted by the Heritage Foundation focused on the importance of fair elections, in which implementing voter ID laws across the country would be essential. But when it comes to voter fraud, there are institutional barriers currently in place that if reformed, would help ensure that the integrity of the election process not be compromised in any way. Such reforms would alleviate the burdens put on voters, while handing over duties such as registering voters and updating registration rolls, over to the states and federal government.
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NPV Critic Response Series: The Electoral College
by Katie P. Kelly, Rob Richie // October 6, 2011 //Critics of the National Popular Vote (NPV) plan often make misleading or misinformed remarks and judgments. To address these remarks, we are launching a new blog series designed to address the latest arguments from opponents. We start today by first reviewing some important features of the current Electoral College system and how those features influence our critique of current state laws governing modern elections. Subsequent posts will address arguments specifically and directly respond to new criticisms.
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Low Voter Turnout in West Virginia's Special Election for Governor Part of Disturbing Pattern
by Christina Grier // October 13, 2011 //Low voter turnout in elections is an ongoing problem in the United States, and is always expected to be lower during odd or special elections like the ones recently held in West Virginia, New York, and Nevada. Yet electoral participation is an outlet in which the citizen voice can be heard. What happens to the voice of the citizen when voters become so fed up with a broken system that they neglect their opportunity to vote? It is a concern when the electorate does not see elections as a way to fix government.
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Pennsylvanians oppose congressional district system - but also status quo
by Katie P. Kelly, Rob Richie // September 29, 2011 //Poll numbers are useful in today's politics, but it is important to remember that the answers to other relevant questions may not always be present. Pennsylvanians oppose of Senate majority leader Dominic Pileggi’s proposal to allocate electoral votes by congressional district, but they also oppose the current system.
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Arlen Specter: Extra Money for Swing State Status
by Katie P. Kelly // September 28, 2011 //As someone who has officially been a Pennsylvanian all of her life until this month, I can say that the debate over Electoral College reform occurring across Pennsylvania has had my close attention. Senator Arlen Specter's comment made it clear that the system is set up to serve special interests. Isn't it about time for the system to serve the American people?
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French Socialists to hold their first US-style primary
by , Hüseyin Koyuncu // September 21, 2011 //The French Socialist Party (PS) is defined as the main opposition to the ruling party. It is one of the largest political parties in French political life. On October 9th and 16th, the PS will hold the first open presidential primary in French history. Privately administered by the party itself, the election will be in two rounds, unless one member obtains an absolute majority in the first round. The winner of the primary will be the Socialist nominee for president.
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Presidential Tracker: "Every Corner of Every Swing State"
by Katie P. Kelly, Presidential Tracker // September 14, 2011 //Historical trends are right on track with our Presidential tracker. As the general election comes closer, visits to states by the President are taking an interesting swing.