Democracy + Elections
Nonpartisan Open Primaries Let Alaskans Choose Values Over Party
More than half of voters in the 2022 midterm primaries split their tickets between candidates from across the political spectrum.
On Even-Year Elections, Trust Voters—and Evidence
Vastly higher turnout in even-numbered years drowns out down-ballot drop-off, and more representative results indicate voters have the information they need.
Lawmakers Across the Political Spectrum Should Help More Alaskans Vote
A host of laws to make voting easier would benefit Independent, Republican, and Democratic constituents.
Washingtonians May Get a Democracy Upgrade in 2024
State leaders are considering measures to allow ranked choice voting, even-year elections, statewide democracy vouchers, and more.
With Ranked Choice Voting Coming to Washington State, It’s Time to Coordinate Rollout
State legislators can support local jurisdictions with streamlined implementation guidelines.
One Year In and One Year Out: An Update on Portland Charter Reform
For followers of democracy reform, Portland offers a rough blueprint.
Idaho, Montana, and Washington Could Save $30 Million by Moving Local Elections to National Election Day
A preliminary estimate of potential cost savings from municipal election consolidation.
What Can Portland Learn from America’s Oldest Proportional Election System?
City Councilor Burhan Azeem shares his experiences from Cambridge, Massachusetts.
A Fairer Election System in Alaska Helped More Independents Win Office
Open primaries and ranked choice voting likely led to greater political diversity in the Alaska legislature, while their effect on age, gender, and race was less apparent.