Dear John,

Before you enjoy your turkey and pumpkin pie tomorrow, check out this great new article from NPR about proportional representation!

This “gold standard” reform would ensure nearly every American has a U.S. House member who represents their beliefs and community, while dramatically reducing gerrymandering and giving members of Congress new incentives to work together on the big issues facing our nation.

Especially exciting for us, the article lifts up the Fair Representation Act as the clearest path to enact proportional representation in the United States:

Once you’re done with the NPR article, check out this timely new poll from our friends at Protect Democracy about proportional representation… and our favorite Thanksgiving foods! In Congress, proportional representation can deliver better and more accurate representation; at the dinner table, it can give us better sides!

It's not just proportional representation that can help fix Congress. New research from FairVote's Rachel Hutchinson and Professor Ben Reilly finds that Maine’s adoption of single-winner ranked choice voting likely increased bipartisan cosponsorship of bills from its swing-seat representative. Together with Alaska’s successful and low-drama 2023 legislative session, these results provide an early suggestion that RCV promotes bipartisanship!

Hutchinson and Professor Reilly discuss their findings in our first-ever “research brief” video below: 

With proportional representation gaining national attention, RCV picking up endorsements from across the political spectrum, and at least two statewide RCV ballot measures coming up next year, it’s an exciting time to be part of this movement!

Wishing you a happy and restful Thanksgiving,
Deb Otis
FairVote Director of Research and Policy