Dear John,
Despite our nation’s ongoing pandemic challenges, I hope you have enjoyed a lovely summer.
FairVote’s team and the broader movement for better elections are making real progress, and we are growing our team in ways where we could use your help.
Nationally, we wanted to lift up opportunities 1) to tell your Members of Congress about the John Lewis Act to restore protections historically provided by the Voting Rights Act and 2) to find state allies to combat gerrymandering after the recent release of 2020 Census data.
FairVote’s reform highlights of the summer include:
-
23 Utah cities this week closed candidate filings in their
November ranked choice voting elections, with 12 more cities also
using RCV around the nation - the most ever.
-
RCV won on the ballot in two more cities, and will be on the
ballot in three more - with a streak of 10 straight city wins on the
line.
-
New York City had an excellent debut
in its primaries, with the
most city voters since 1989, glowing voter reviews in exit surveys and
a remarkable flowing of new voices earning wins. FairVote was widely
cited in analysis of the elections, from Rolling Stone to the New York Times.
-
Four states passed
legislation advancing RCV,
while Congress, 25 additional states and Washington, D.C. considered
pro-RCV legislation.
- Congress introduced the Fair Representation Act as the most transformative reform proposal for congressional elections in American history. This reform would end the “gerrymandering wars” we tragically must experience again this coming year and that our senior fellow Dave Daley tracks for us in publications and on TV across America.
FairVote works with national and state allies to make this progress possible. We are expanding our capacity and growing our team. Here are new FairVote leaders and request for your help in filling openings:
-
Lan Nguyen is our new Executive VP and COO. Lan has a
remarkable track record in helping organizations be effective and
strong. We wish Sangita Sigdyal well in her new role as CEO of
Verified Voting.
-
Other new staff include Margaret Lawlor, Director of
Finance, who brings a deep expertise in finance and accounting
experience, Cristin Merker and Samantha Terry who have joined the
executive team in key support roles.
- We are hiring! Please send strong candidates our way ready to be a Press Secretary leading our work on media relations, a Senior Policy Advisor leading our policy analysis and legislative drafting, and interns able to support our entire team -- with new paid internship opportunities for those who otherwise could not work at FairVote and upcoming job announcements to include a learning officer and development director.
Stay tuned for news about the FairVote Awards, to be attended in-person and virtually in New York City on November 8th. We’re excited to share our honorees with you soon.
Thanks again to all of you able to support FairVote with your donations and energy.
Sincerely yours,
Rob Richie
http://www.fairvote.org/
