FairVote Blog
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The Constitutional Right to Vote Blog: Election Day 2010, the DOJ, and the Right to Vote
by , Jo McKeegan // November 1, 2010 //With Election Day just hours away, it is important that voters know of the resources available to them, in the event they witness something go wrong at the polls.
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From the "Non-Majority Rule" Desk: Plurality Rules Cause Voters to Abandon Their True Preferences
by Chris Marchsteiner, The Non-Majority Rule Desk // October 20, 2010 //As November approaches, several major races for governor and U.S. Senate have three candidates polling in double digits, with no candidate close to a majority. That fact and likely ultimate outcome in several races shows the defects of a plurality, vote-for-one system where the majority can split its votes and lose. But plurality voting also creates an ongoing problem for voters who end up abandoning their true preferences.
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Constitutional Right to Vote Blog: The Right to Vote- More Precious than a Bag of Chips
by , Jo McKeegan // November 18, 2010 //Prior to 2007 in Maryland, a person could have been disenfranchised for committing a variety of “infamous crimes” including the misdemeanor titled “unlawful operation of vending machines”.
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Live Blogging from the polls in DC
November 2, 2010 //Election Day is here! Amy Ngai, Director of Program for Representative Government at FairVote, is working the polls in DC.
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The Next Step Beyond Honor and Sanity?
by Krist Novoselic // November 1, 2010 //Moving beyond rhetoric and labels, Krist Novoselic, FairVote's Board Chair, discusses ways to reinvigorate the political system.
Krist writes: "We’ve seen voters coalesce around a celebrity candidate, but we could very well soon see a celebrity-initiated new party."
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From the "Non-Majority Rule" Desk: Election Day Coverage of Non-Majority Winners and Spoilers
by Chris Marchsteiner, The Non-Majority Rule Desk // November 3, 2010 //Whether you are registered as a Democrat, Republican, independent, or third party, today should be a day for reflection on the flaws that obstruct true democracy in the United States.
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The Constitutional Right to Vote Blog: What elections tell us about how we protect the vote
by , Jo McKeegan // November 3, 2010 //Without clear constitutional protections, each individual citizen’s right to have a vote cast properly on Election Day is not constitutionally ensured. Missteps can and should be avoided with proper investment, training and attention to the mechanics of our elections. Voter apathy could be at least partially addressed with better civic education, starting in schools, but continuing into adult life with resources like voter guides. Until voting becomes a specifically enumerated right, we can expect to see concerns continue.
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Jordan: Boycotts and Tribalism Question Election's Credibility
by Andy Andrianantoandro // November 17, 2010 //Jordan’s parliamentary elections took place on November 9 after a year of direct rule by King Abdullah II
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Being Pro-Voter is Not Partisan: 2010 Results Underscore how Republicans should not Fear Same-Day Voter Registration
by , Rob Richie // November 22, 2010 //Upholding fair voter access and protecting voting rights should not be a partisan issue. In our decentralized system, however, some states do a better job at protecting these rights than others. Take for instance, the issue of Same Day Voter Registration (SDR); a sensible reform when implemented well which all too often has been inaccurately thought to advantage one major party (Democrats) at the expense of another (Republicans).
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Does mandatory voting restrict or expand democracy?
by Wael Abdel Hamid // October 18, 2010 //Does mandatory voting restrict or expand democracy? For many people who have never heard about the idea, mandatory voting sounds very strict: requiring people to go to the polls on Election Day. In the United States, it seems strange to present an action many consider a right as a required duty. Nevertheless, in many foreign countries, mandatory voting (sometimes referred to as compulsory voting) is an obvious democratic option.