FairVote Blog
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What if We Used the Electoral College to Elect State Governors?
by Nathan Nicholson // October 15, 2014 //
Ever imagine it would be a good idea to elect governors with a state-level Electoral College? We tested the idea in Oregon and Pennsylvania and found some remarkable results: only 10 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and only seven of Oregon’s 37 counties would be in play, and one party could win the governor’s race while losing big in the popular vote. Electing governors by a popular vote respects every vote - and so would enactment of the National Popular Vote plan for president. -
Strangeness of a One-Party Majority in New Zealand
by Sarah John // September 26, 2014 //
At the end of an unusual election campaign, New Zealand's Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMP) electoral system has delivered Kiwis a strong mandate for the current government, with the first time a single party has won a majority of seats since the nation replaced U.S.-style plurality voting elections with MMP in 1993. The election also demonstrated many of the advantages that such fair representation voting systems have over the single-member plurality systems so often used in American elections. -
Is “No” the Status Quo? The Scottish Vote on Independence
by Mike MacNevin // September 16, 2014 //
The Scottish electorate will vote Thursday on whether or not to break away from the United Kingdom, a 300 year old union. Will the inclusion of newly enfranchised 16 and 17 year old voters be decisive in declaring Scottish independence? -
Massachusetts Women Secure Nominations, But Still Far from Gender Parity
by Claire Daviss // September 16, 2014 //
Many consider women's success this week in Massachusetts primaries to be a big step toward gender parity. A closer look at Massachusetts reveals there is still a long way to go. Representation 2020's reforms present opportunities. -
Continuing Electoral Reforms in Trinidad and Tobago
by Sarah John // September 15, 2014 //
Hot on the heels of electoral reforms last year, small Caribbean island nation Trinidad and Tobago has abandoned plurality voting in favor of runoff voting in its national elections. FairVote is keeping close watch on Trinidad and Tobago, as political parties, legislators and citizens continue to discuss voting systems, including ranked choice voting and fair representation voting, and agitate for reform.
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Fighting Misconceptions about a National Popular Vote for President
by Nathan Nicholson // September 12, 2014 //
Yes, voters in 146 counties could theoretically elect a president under NPV. Why that’s no problem – and why our current system is much, much worse. -
Election of Women in our 100 Largest Cities: Disadvantaged by Districts
by Rob Richie // September 11, 2014 //
Our latest analysis on the proportion of women in the the nation's top 100 cities reveals dramatic disparity. Women are underrepresented in the large majority of U.S. cities. Women are, however, more likely to be represented in city councils that use citywide elections, as opposed to single member districts, to elect at least some of their city council members. -
For State Legislators, Reese’s May Be the Sweetest Thing: Ranked Choice Voting in Action at the NCSL Legislative Summit
by Grace Ramsey, Rob Richie // September 10, 2014 //
FairVote’s booth at the annual legislative summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) was election central for the Rank Your Candy mock election using ranked choice voting. It was a hard-fought campaign and all of the candydates put forth a great effort but in the end Reese's had the broadest base of support and was declared the winner. -
Ethnic Minorities and Proportional Representation in Myanmar
by Sarah John // September 5, 2014 //
Having tentatively thrust off their military dictatorship, Myanmar actively debates adopting Proportional Representation for its legislature. (Photo Credit: Htoo Tay Zar, Wikicommons)
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A Push for Open General Elections in Nevada: Top Three with IRV
by Drew Spencer // August 12, 2014 //
A nascent movement for inclusive electoral reform has been steadily growing in Nevada, and it deserves more attention and support.