Research we conducted this week provides further evidence for the core argument of Election Reformers Network: that our rules themselves are a source of political dysfunction and partisanship. Political scientists measure partisanship with a tool call the NOMINATE score, which ranks Representatives and Senators based on their roll call votes (with +1 being extremely conservative, and -1…
California’s “top two” primary system didn’t create the disaster scenario Tuesday that some had predicted but still caused enough havoc to generate calls for reform. Among the ideas likely to come forward is a change to “top four plus ranked choice voting,” which would be a huge step forward for election reform in the US….
GUARDING THE HENHOUSE: WHO SHOULD DRAW CREDIBLE ELECTION BOUNDARIES? Edward R. McMahon, Ed.D Adjunct Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Vermont Vice Chair, Election Reformers Network A hot item on the current political reform agenda in this country concerns the redrawing of the boundaries that define congressional districts. This constitutionally-mandated process typically occurs every…
ROB RICHIE and KEVIN JOHNSON A ballot designed to show first, second, and third choices can lead to more mainstream candidates and less cantankerous politics. Regardless of who wins in November, the 2018 House elections are already making history. The House primaries, which started on March 5 in Texas and will continue into September, rank…
With the help of hundreds of chilly volunteers, and a last minute appearance from rock star John Fishman, the Committee for Ranked Choice gathered and submitted 80,000 signatures Friday to the Maine Secretary of State, and as a result a promising voting reform will be in use at a state-wide level for the first time…
In the early 1980s, international observers were frequently belittled as not credible evaluators of electoral processes. Critics of US foreign policy viewed them as props whose role was to legitimize otherwise problematic elections. Conflicting reports issued by observers of controversial Central American elections in El Salvador and Nicaragua reinforced the notion that the observation process…
The 2018 election season is sure to offer plenty of political drama – and plenty of anxiety for people concerned about our democracy. Alongside well-established issues like gerrymandering, money in elections, and voter access, 2018 will highlight a weakness in our system that hasn’t received much attention: the problem of crowded races decided by simple…
