Friend,
This is a challenging time in the United States. In an election when a greater share of adults voted than ever before in our history, we find ourselves deeply divided.
We know that most Americans are focused on the question of who has won the presidential election. That obviously is important. We applaud those urging calm and respect for the process.
But we at FairVote wanted to step back and share what this election means for our democracy. Our opening motto in 1992 was to “make every vote count.” That remains fundamentally true. Every vote must be counted. Every voice must be heard. We believe in a truly representative democracy that rewards elected leaders for putting voters first. We believe in the power of citizens to make decisions about what future they want for themselves and their communities.
This election only deepens our commitment in our priority reforms. Winner-take-all elections and single-choice ballots create starkly red and blue maps that silence tens of millions of voices. We will work toward enactment of the Fair Representation Act in Congress and wide use of ranked choice voting across the nation. This year, we have engaged in a deep planning process with these goals in mind and are confident in our strategy.
Ranked choice voting was used successfully in Maine’s elections for president and U.S. Senate and in eight cities and counties across the country. In a truly thrilling string of wins, voters embraced it in five city ballot measures, including the proportional form of RCV winning over 70% of the vote in Albany, California. While losing narrowly in Massachusetts after a remarkable campaign by Yes on 2, RCV remains in play in Alaska until all the votes are counted. Looking ahead, a University of Massachusetts poll last week lifted up a remarkable number: 84% of voters under 30 supported a yes vote on ranked choice voting.
This week’s elections are proof that our current election rules aren’t working. We need to look outside the box to ways of voting and counting ballots that bring everyone to the table. While reform is never a straight line, we see a pathway over the next decade for changing elections from your city to the White House and Congress; this is the central element of our long term strategy.
That’s why our work is about you. It’s about joining with Americans standing up for the principles upon which this country rests. It’s about supporting local advocates, who have volunteered countless hours in support of local ballot victories. It’s about an unyielding commitment to achieving government of, by and for the people. We are grateful to advocate for these reforms with you, and look forward to a fairer, more representative government in the future.
Thank you,
Rob Richie
CEO and
President, FairVote
http://www.fairvote.org/
