<x-flowed>This newsletter went out to our list today. I thought some of you might be interested in the reports that are described here. The "Who Picks the President" data is a fascinating window into how modern campaigns are run, for example.

Rob Richie

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FairVote News Flash, November 1, 2005


   Richie on Talk of the Nation and MSNBCÕs Mockracy

*Plus: FairVote on filibuster controversy, plurality winners, presidential elections, more*

/Look for our 2005 election special newsletter in the coming week, but we wanted to send out a flash alert today about fast-breaking media developments:/

*FairVoteÕs Rob Richie on NPRÕs Talk of the Nation today*

   * FairVoteÕs executive director Rob Richie will be a guest on
     National Public RadioÕs Talk of the Nation in the 2 pm Ð 3 pm ET
     hour. The subject will be redistricting, legislative competition
     and proportional voting.

   * Related Links:
         o NPRÕs Talk of the Nation
           <http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=5>
         o FairVoteÕs Redistricting Reform Watch
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=1389>
         o RichieÕs articles in National Civic Review
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=200&articlemode=showspecific&showarticle=1100>
           and Legal Times
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=200&articlemode=showspecific&showarticle=1061>


*Proportional Voting in MSNBCÕs Mockracy*

   * MSNBC.com has an excellent new interactive flash animation that
     illustrates how different proportional voting systems might
     improve our democracy. An animated version of FairVoteÕs Rob
     Richie is one of the productionsÕ two on-line guides to the systems.

   * Related Links:
         o MSNBCÕs Mockracy <http://msnbc.com/modules/mockracy/>
         o FairVoteÕs Program for Representative Government
           <http://fairvote.org/filibuster/?page=37>


*Filibuster Controversies: Time for Judicial Nomination Reform*

   * FairVoteÕs new release on its findings showing that undercuts
     arguments made in support of filibusters and in opposing them.
     Given the likely filibuster of Samuel AlitoÕs nomination to the
     Supreme Court, we believe itÕs the right time to debate better,
     more inclusive ways of nominating federal judges.

   * Related Links:
         o FairVoteÕs Filibuster 2005: Who Represents America?
           <http://fairvote.org/filibuster/>


*Who Picks the President?*

   * FairVoteÕs latest report on presidential elections focuses on
     spending and campaign activity by the major party campaigns in the
     peak season of the 2004 campaign. We show incredible levels of
     inequality of attention given to different states. Only seven
     states received significant attention, small states are treated
     the worst overall and Florida had more television ad spending than
     46 states combined. The report is being released today in
     Illinois, the home state of FairVote chairman John Anderson.

   * Related Links:
         o Who Picks the President? <http://www.fairvote.org/whopicks/>
         o The Shrinking Battleground (July 2005 report)
           <http://www.fairvote.org/shrinking>
         o TodayÕs Tompaine.Com article by FairVoteÕs Chris Pearson and
           Ryan OÕDonnell
           <http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051101/the_shrinking_battleground.php>


*FairVoteÕs Congressional Legislation Priorities*

   * FairVote supports current legislation that promotes instant runoff
     voting, proportional voting, direct election of the president,
     nonpartisan redistricting and protections of the right to vote. We
     oppose bills that would prevent majority requirements in
     presidential races.

   * Related Links
         o FairVoteÕs summary of congressional legislation priorities
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=1679>

*
Protecting Democracy in Louisiana*

   * In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana voters and
     election administrators face numerous challenges that threaten to
     undermine the stateÕs democratic processes. FairVote calls for
     multimember districts with proportional voting systems, expansion
     of its current use of ranked ballots for overseas voters to
     include displaced Hurricane Katrina victims and federal agency
     involvement in seeking accurate and complete voter rolls.

   * Related Links
         o FairVoteÕs recommendations for fair elections in Louisiana
           <http://www.fairvote.org/katrina/>


*IRV: Takoma Park Ballot Measure, Citywide Test in San Francisco*

   * The city council of Takoma Park (MD) voted unanimously to place a
     ballot measure on the November 8th city election ballot on the
     question of whether to implement instant runoff voting (IRV) for
     future city elections. Meanwhile, San Francisco is gearing up for
     its first citywide IRV election for three offices after its
     extremely successful initial IRV elections in November 2004. IRV
     also won endorsements recently by the Democratic Party in Iowa and
     California.

   * Related Links
         o Takoma Park for IRV <http://www.takomaparkforirv.com/>
         o New exit poll analysis of San FranciscoÕs 2004 elections
           <http://pri.sfsu.edu/reports/SFSU-PRI_RCV_final_report_June_30.pdf%20>


*Non-majority winners in American elections*

   * FairVote has updated its summary of non-majority winners in our
     highest offices. Nearly half of governors won a primary or general
     elections with less than half the votes, as did many Members of
     Congress and a third of our presidents.

   * Related Links
         o FairVoteÕs Non-Majority Winners in America
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=1595>


*Carter-Baker Commission Report: ProÕs and ConÕs*

   * The September release of recommendations by a reform commission
     headed by Jimmy Carter and James Baker met with mixed reactions
     and concerns from some election reformers about photo
     identification requirements at the polls. FairVote applauds the
     commission for its endorsement of a more inclusive presidential
     primary schedule, high school civic education, nonpartisan
     elections officials, verified voting and articulating the goal of
     universal voter registration. But the report falls short in the
     breadth of its recommended reforms. It stays silent on many
     essential reforms and turns away from the ideal of nationwide
     standards for running federal elections founded on a
     constitutional right to vote, instead accepting the familiar
     state-by-state patchwork of rules.

   * Related Links
         o Rob Richie and Steven Hill in the Hartford Courant
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=1165&articlemode=showspecific&showarticle=905>
         o FairVoteÕs Ryan OÕDonnell in the Orlando Sentinel
           <http://fairvote.org/?page=1004&articlemode=showspecific&showarticle=921>



     Support Fair Elections!

As with many non-profits, FairVote relies heavily on individual contributions. We have an ambitious agenda, and a terrific team leading a campaign for free and fair elections in the United States. If you want to support the nationÕs leading organization working locally and nationally to advance instant runoff voting, proportional voting systems, direct election of the president, 100% voter registration and a constitutional right to vote, please consider a donation today.

Thank you!
F a i r V o t e
The Center for Voting and Democracy
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610
Takoma Park, MD 20912
www.fairvote.org info@fairvote.org
(301) 270-4616


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