FairVote Blog
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Modernizing Voter Registration: An Overview of the American Enterprise Institute Conference
by Christina Grier // September 22, 2011 // 0 commentsElectoral reform experts gathered together on September 19th for a conference on modernizing voter registration. Panelists discussed the current registration system, and provided solutions that will bring voter registration into the 21st century.
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French Socialists to hold their first US-style primary
by Hüseyin Koyuncu // September 21, 2011 // 0 commentsThe French Socialist Party (PS) is defined as the main opposition to the ruling party. It is one of the largest political parties in French political life. On October 9th and 16th, the PS will hold the first open presidential primary in French history. Privately administered by the party itself, the election will be in two rounds, unless one member obtains an absolute majority in the first round. The winner of the primary will be the Socialist nominee for president.
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The Disappearing Vote: A Spotlight on the Disenfranchised Felon Population of the US
September 15, 2011 // 0 commentsSecuring voting rights for every citizen should be a primary goal of the government. Up to 5.3 million people in the United States previously convicted of a felony are currently disenfranchised. While disproportionately affecting African-American men, the lack of voting rights due to having a criminal history serves as a hindrance to a successful re-entrance into society.
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Presidential Tracker: "Every Corner of Every Swing State"
by Katie Kelly // September 14, 2011 // 0 commentsHistorical trends are right on track with our Presidential tracker. As the general election comes closer, visits to states by the President are taking an interesting swing.
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National Popular Vote Plan: Empowering Americans
by Katie Kelly // September 13, 2011 // 0 commentsDespite its successes and the way it empowers individual Americans, the National Popular Vote proposal is still facing opposition. Under the status quo, too many people and their states are ignored during the campaign season. It is time to think about this proposal in a new way: a way that is not constrained by the framework of the current system.
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Right to Vote Advocates Give Testimonies to US Senate Judiciary Committee
On September 8, 2011, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on state voting laws, in particular, laws that could be seen as suppressing voter turnout. Advocates spoke about why a right to vote is so necessary, and not simply amendments that prevent voters from discrimination.
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The Next Generation of Reformers: Reasons for Young People to Get Involved in the Electoral Reform Movement
by Dorothy Scheeline // August 24, 2011 // 0 commentsA lot of the people advocating for structural changes do so because we have problems with the established political culture. The group of people that is 18-29 right now has a lot of reasons to want deep systemic change soon. Because of this, I think that over the next decade we will see groups that are focused on young people intensify their advocacy efforts for election reform issues.
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Maine into One At-Large Super District
Lawmakers in Maine are fiercely debating how to redraw the boundaries of the state's two U.S. congressional districts in the wake of the 2010 Census. Both political parties seek new maps favorable to their candidates, a process that could affect not only the current 2-0 Democratic U.S. House majority, but possibly also an Electoral College vote at the presidential level. FairVote has produced an alternative "super district" map designed for election with a proportional voting system. Our plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while guaranteeing competitive voter choice and fairer representation.
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Connecticut into One At-Large Super District
Lawmakers in Connecticut are debating how to redraw the boundaries of the state's five U.S. congressional districts in the wake of the 2010 Census. Fully in control of the state legislature, the Democratic Party is expected to push through a new map that protects its incumbents. Such controversies are products of our winner-take-all elections, in which 50.01% of voters can elect 100% of representation. Winner-take-all rules marginalize like-minded voters of a political minority no matter their relative numerical strength, thereby depressing turnout and providing inadequate representation. As part of an ongoing project, FairVote has produced a "super district" map designed for Connecticut elections with a proportional voting system. Our proportional plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while guaranteeing fairer representation.
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Update: Lebanon Discusses Adopting Proportional Representation
The Arab Spring movement has influenced Lebanon differently than many of its neighbors. Unlike nations like Syria and Yemen, there aren't street protests. Rather, the turmoil in the country is within the Parliament, not the people themselves.
