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Democracy + Elections

When Cities Switch To One-Winner Council Districts, Housing Growth Plummets

Housing growth drops 20 percent, on average, in cities making the sort of switch proposed by Portland’s Commissioner Mapps.
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In Seattle, Courts Might Reject Approval Voting . . .

. . . but not Ranked Choice Voting.
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What Peltola’s Win Can Teach Alaska (and America)

Lesson #1: The electorate is not binary.
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Compare Cheney and Murkowski’s Political Fates—It’s All About the Primary

Forget the general election for a moment. It’s how we run primary elections that decides who’s even a contender.
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Approval Voting Is a Risky Prospect for Seattle

It’s a novice system when it comes to real-world elections, where ranked choice voting is a battle-tested pro.
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San Juan County (WA) Council Blocks Ranked Choice Voting and Other Charter Amendments from November Ballot

In a setback for county residents and democracy reforms sprouting up across Cascadia, Councilors claimed without explanation that the amendments did not comply with provisions of the Charter.
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In Alaska’s Special Election, a Bipartisan Mindset Makes Sense

Pandering to the center is actually a viable strategy in the race to serve out Rep. Don Young's term in the US House.
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A Guide to Alaska’s August 16 Election

One ballot, two elections: The pick-one midterm primaries and the ranked choice special election for US House are on the same ballot.
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A Berry Alaska-Style Election

Practice Alaska’s new election system—with the state’s iconic berries!
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