Greetings,
July was a remarkable month for pro-democracy advocates, highlighted by a logjam breaking in Congress that unleashed a torrent of support for reauthorizing and strengthening key provisions of the Voting Rights Act and by a major surge in support for instant runoff voting, one of FairVoteÕs signature reform proposals.
Our e-newsletter reports about this fallÕs major campaigns for instant runoff voting and a big win in the North Carolina state legislatures. Indeed cities and counties with more than 1.6 million people will vote on IRV this fall, several state legislatures will debate statewide IRV bills in 2007 and dozens of congressional candidates now tell Project Vote Smart they support IRV.
I wanted to highlight one short-term imperative. These campaigns must be supported by grassroots donations so voters can learn more about IRV. For more information on how you can help, see links about the different campaigns on our IRV Victories pages.
My best to you,
Rob
Richie
Executive Director
P.S. I urge you also to take a look at our new annual report: The Way Democracy Will Be . And please copy this message and share it with your friends!
|
Headlines
Voting Rights Act
Reauthorization signed into law. On July 27, President Bush signed
reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. The Senate unanimously passed it
on July 20. The law extends for 25 years, key provisions of the original
act that protect racial minorities from discriminatory voting practices.
The Senate approval came in the wake of a small rebellion of House Members
resulting in a delayed vote. As a member of the Leadership Conference of
Civil Rights , FairVote strongly backed the legislation.
Instant runoff
voting in North Carolina The North Carolina legislature approved a
groundbreaking bill this month by voting to test IRV in up to 10 cities
and 10 counties in local elections in the 2007-2008. The state also would
use IRV to fill vacancies for certain judicial offices that have drawn
increased numbers of candidates with the stateÕs public financing system
for judicial elections.
Oakland
latest major city to vote on instant runoff voting this
NovemberOaklandÕs city council voted 6-2 on July 18 to place a
measure to adopt IRV for city elections on the November ballot. Oakland
joins Minneapolis and Pierce County (WA) in voting on IRV this fall.
Choice voting on the
November ballot in Davis (CA) Many of FairVoteÕs successes are on
college campuses all around the country. Now change has spilled over from
the campus to the community. Students at the University of California-
Davis, sparked interest in the city after successfully using choice voting
in campus elections. After researching and studying choice voting, and
learning about its benefits in terms of fair representation and choice,
the Davis City Council members approved of a charter review commissionÕs
report, and placed this proportional voting system on the November ballot.
See http://www.davischoicevoting.org/
Monopoly Politics 2006 Ð
Sneak Preview FairVoteÕs biannual report shows how AmericaÕs
winner-take-all electoral system results in largely non-competitive
elections. The report projects with dead-on accuracy winners and victory
margins in House elections using factors such as partisanship and number
of terms an incumbent has served; without regard to campaign activity
since the past elections. Much as we might to take credit for having an
impressive crystal ball, it is the winner-take-all election system in
American that creates such deterministic results. One teaser from our
upcoming edition: most incumbents received little to no boost in
redistricting, but mapmakers helped three-quarters of incumbents who won
close races in 2000.
FairVote
report helps trigger interest in presidential primary schedule
After interest generated by FairVoteÕs report Outside Looking In,
the Washington, D.C. City Council passed a Sense of the Council
resolution, supporting an early 2008 nomination contest for Washington,
D.C., joining backers like Donna Brazile and DC Vote. Democrats instead
likely will pick Nevada and South Carolina to join the Iowa and New
Hampshire as the states that matter in picking their nominee. FairVote
sees the American Plan as
the best proposal for 2012.
Amarillo secures
cumulative voting for new election The Amarillo Board of Regents
and plaintiffs in July signed a consent decree agreeing to use cumulative
voting for future elections; the city has had great success with
cumulative voting in school board elections since a 1999 consent decree.
FairVote's universal
voter registration statute FairVote seeks a voter registration
system where the government shares responsibility for registration with
its citizens to ensure full and accurate voter rolls. Having 100%
registration will address the remarkably low 72% rate of registration
among eligible voters that contributes to low turnout and inefficient
election administration. FairVote's legal team has developed a proposal
for achieving universal registration while allowing an opt-out provision
that is based on some state's policies on health care. Get
Involved Notes |
Features San Francisco Exit Poll Affirms IRVÕs Success A newly released exit poll from San FranciscoÕs 2005 election shows the universality of instant runoff votingÕs appeal and effectiveness.Conducted by The Public Research Institute of San Francisco State University, the poll indicates that voters were three times more likely to say voting with IRV was easy than not Ð consistent with a 99.6% rate of valid ballots. Voters also preferred IRV to the old two-round runoff system by a margin of three to one, with strong support from all voters - transcending party, race, gender, age and neighborhood. FairVoteÕs analyses show voter turnout in the final count was nearly three times what it would have been with the old runoff system. New FairVote Events
Page! FairVote appears in radio, television, presentations and
press event around the country. Now you can see it all in one place!
August highlights include Rob RichieÕs presentation on instant runoff
voting to the Aspen (CO) city council on August 1 and the Presidential
Election ReformÕs Òshort courseÓ on the Electoral College at the American
Political Science Association on August 28, where we also will have a
booth from Aug. 29-Sept.3. Commentary
and News Two elections, one trip to vote Wilmington Star News Editorial board strongly favors using instant runoff voting for North Carolina elections. Every
vote counts in a fair electoral system Voters
may get to decide changes to elections format GOP
Redistricting Redistricting
Reformers Renew Push Repairing
American democracy New
districts in harmony with one person, one vote Break
down barriers to minority parties How
to Get Real Elections Justices
Back Most G.O.P. Changes to Texas Districts Mexico's
election lesson to U.S. Reform
DeLayed Support
Fair Elections!
WeÕre making terrific progress in every part of our work. Indeed we
stand near a Òtipping point,Ó one that could lead to profound improvements
in our elections. Read our latest postal newsletter to reporters and help
make change happen this year by giving generously to FairVote!
|
