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Welcome to Sightline Institute’s redesigned website!

You’ll find our same top-notch solutions research, just with a fresh new look. Learn more here about new features, or simply browse as usual. 

Democracy + Elections

Advancing fixes for Cascadia’s electoral systems

Upgrading electoral methods so that government can better solve hard problems.  

Latest research + analysis

Democracy + Elections

The History of Washington’s Wandering Election Day

Despite intending to choose a voting day that’s best for voters, timing could still be easier—and legislators can fix that.

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A Magic Boost for Low-Turnout City Elections

Seattle’s 2024 special city council election showed just how easily local voter participation could skyrocket.
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Reintroducing: Your Local Library, a Critical Tool for Democracy

A Q&A with author and advocate Shamichael Hallman on how public libraries can help us rebuild civic trust and connection—if we redefine our relationship with them. 
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Election Reform Measures Lost; Election Reform Didn’t

What to learn—and what to leave behind—from the 2024 ballot measure losses in Cascadia.
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Alaskans Keep Their Model Election System

The open primaries and ranked choice voting that have delivered more representation for independents and moderate Republicans survived a repeal effort. 
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Meet your researcher

Jeannette Lee

Alaska Research Director

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Sightline’s work is made possible by the generosity of people like you.

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Meet the Team

Shannon Grimes

Researcher

Shannon is a Researcher with Sightline’s Democracy program, where she focuses on securing electoral reforms in Washington and Oregon.

Jay Lee

Senior Research Associate

Jay is a Senior Research Associate with Sightline Institute, primarily working on electoral upgrades across Cascadia.

Al Vanderklipp

Senior Research Associate

Al is a Senior Research Associate at Sightline Institute, with a focus on election systems in the Northern Rockies.

Alice Buckley

Fellow

Alice leads Sightline’s efforts in Montana, supporting local initiatives for abundant housing and stronger democracy in Big Sky Country.

Todd Newman

Fellow

Todd Newman is a fellow with Sightline Institute studying municipal election timing. He is also a recently retired programmer.

The good policy decisions that lead to greater sustainability rely on a healthy democracy. But politics too frequently derail good and popular ideas that even the majority of people support. 

Sightline’s nonpartisan Democracy and Elections program advances fixes for Cascadia’s electoral systems that put more leaders in office willing to fight for what most people want: homes they can afford near where they work, learn, and play; good-paying jobs that support their families; clean, efficient transportation options; and clean air and water in a healthy climate. 

To this end, we envision a democracy that is more fair and inclusive, and that honestly reflects the values and needs of “we the people.” We focus on a variety of solutions, including stifling extreme partisanship through open primaries, allowing voters more freedom to express their true preferences through ranked choice voting and proportional representation, and expanding and protecting voting access for all. 

Learn more about our Democracy + Elections research projects below.

Open primaries and ranked choice voting in Alaska

Learn more about Alaska’s open pick-one primaries and ranked choice voting election system

Multi-member districts and ranked choice voting in Portland, Oregon

Portlanders are changing their elections and how city hall works for them

What is ranked choice voting?

Sightline has been writing and researching ranked choice voting for several years.

Book: Becoming a Democracy

How we can fix the electoral college, gerrymandering, and our elections?

$30 million

How much ID, MT, and WA could save by moving local elections to even years

52%

How many Alaska voters opted to choose a mix of candidates from different parties, under open primaries in 2022

1.2 million

How many more Washingtonians voted in 2022’s legislative elections vs. 2021’s local elections

Latest research + analysis

Democracy + Elections

The History of Washington’s Wandering Election Day

Despite intending to choose a voting day that’s best for voters, timing could still be easier—and legislators can fix that.

Read More