FairVote Blog
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Does the Candidate Determine the Battleground States in Presidential Elections?
by Claire Daviss // February 23, 2015 //
Many are making predictions on which states will be battlegrounds in the 2016 presidential elections. Certainly a state's underlying partisanship matters. (The closer the state, the more likely it will draw campaign attention.) But do a candidate's individual qualities shape the states he or she targets, and how much? -
Right to Vote Amendment Secures Unanimous Backing of DNC Executive Committee
by Rob Richie // February 22, 2015 //
More than a decade ago, FairVote became the leading institutional voice calling for establishing an explicit individual right to vote in the U.S. Constitution. This weekend, a major new player emerged: the Democratic National Committee. -
Why Missouri Will Not Be a 2016 Presidential Campaign Battleground
by Claire Daviss, Rob Richie // February 19, 2015 //
For more than a century, Missouri was called the "bellwether state" for its tendency to swing between Democrats and Republicans. But Missouri's days as a battleground state appear to be over, as the state has become more Republican in every election since 1996. Read what Missouri can expect in the 2016 presidential election. -
Voting and Elections Summit 2015 Overview
by Rebecca Hellmich // February 18, 2015 //
The ninth annual Voting and Elections Summit was held on February 5th and 6th. FairVote was pleased to cosponsor this year’s conference, and helped arrange speakers, hold workshops and organize one of the major plenary sessions. The event showcased a great array of speakers/presenters, and produced lively, informative discussions. Here is an overview of the various sessions/workshops, with links to videos of key segments. -
New Report! Fuzzy Math: Wrong Way Reforms for Allocating Electoral Votes
by Claire Daviss // January 28, 2015 //
Almost all states use the winner-take-all system to allocate their electoral votes during presidential elections, but fed-up with being ignored during presidential elections, some states are now considering alternatives. Fuzzy Math: Wrong Way Reforms for Allocating Electoral Votes, FairVote's latest report, reveals that not all alternatives are good ones. The best option for states is to adopt the National Popular Vote plan. -
Voting and Elections Summit 2015: FairVote Highlights
January 26, 2015 //
On February 5th and 6th, FairVote is co-hosting the ninth annual Voting and Elections Summit 2015 in Washington, DC. Check out the FairVote highlights of the conference here. This is an event that you don’t want to miss, with great speakers. Register now! -
The Worst Ballot Access Laws in the United States
by Drew Spencer // January 13, 2015 //
Today, we are proud to publish this list of the 19 worst ballot access laws in the United States, authored by Richard Winger. -
And the winner is...Ranked Choice Voting
by Grace Ramsey // January 6, 2015 //
It’s that time of year again! Voting is underway for this year’s Oscar nominees. The Oscars are among the most prestigious awards in the world of cinema, celebrating excellence and innovation in filmmaking. What may be less well-known is that these awards also demonstrate excellence and innovation in voting. -
Hyattsville Extends Voting Rights to 16 and 17 Year Olds
by Austin Plier // January 6, 2015 //
The Hyattsville City Council voted to extend voting rights to 16 and 17 year old residents in city elections after a well-attended public hearing on the issue. Hyattsville became the second municipality in the U.S. to lower their voting age.
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FairVote Submits Comment Supporting Petition for More Inclusive Candidate Debates
by Cameron Ferrante // December 16, 2014 //
FairVote has submitted comments to the Federal Election Commission supporting Level the Playing Field in its mission to change the biased selection criteria for the presidential and vice presidential debates. FairVote supports alternative means of candidate qualification and believes the FEC should do more to encourage broad and open debates.UPDATE: Level the Playing Field has posted additional materials, including letters of support from the Campaign Legal Center and League of Women Voters here.