Democracy + Elections
How Community Groups Can Shape Alaska’s Success on Ranked Choice Voting
The state election division’s budget for educating voters is modest. Nonprofits, community councils, affinity groups, and even book clubs can help.
Proportional Representation Helps Candidates, Too
Tired of focusing on fundraising just to keep your campaign afloat? Voters aren’t the only ones who can benefit from fairer election systems.
How Proportional Representation Gave American Voters Meaningful Representation in the 1900s
And how racial fears and the Red Scare stopped it in its tracks.
When Elections Are Decided in the May Primary, Many Portlanders Don’t Have a voice in City Hall
Holding proportional races in November can change that.
Voters in Southwest Portland Neighborhoods Have More Influence on City Council Elections than Those East of 82nd Avenue
Voters in neighborhoods with more people of color are less likely to elect their preferred councilors.
Portland: Why Risk Gerrymandering When You Could Go Proportional?
Un-gerrymandered districts would keep racial groups in the minority across the city.
Want to Give Portlanders of Color a Voice on City Council? Districts Won’t Help
But proportional ranked choice voting would reliably give voters of color a voice in City Hall.
Everything You Wanted to Know about Portland Charter Review but Were Afraid to Ask
The third ever Charter Commission is meeting right now to propose amendments to Portland’s city charter.
Some Good News on State Voting Rights Bills
Most states are moving to make it easier to vote, but a few states are moving backwards.