Election Reform

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting in Los Angeles

Communications — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
06/02/2008 - 12:00pm

On Monday, June 2nd, the New America Foundation's Political Reformr Program held an engaging panel discussion and luncheon on instant runoff voting (IRV) in Los Angeles.

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a critical electoral reform for the City of Los Angeles that allows voters to rank a first, second and third choice for each office. IRV elects majority winners in a single election without the expense and voter fatigue of a second election. IRV holds great promise to increase voter turnout while saving taxpayers $8 million dollars each election cycle (source: LA city clerk).

A broad coalition is coming together to support IRV, with endorsements from, amongst others, the League of Women Voters, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, labor unions, voting rights groups, neighborhood councils and political leaders like former Mayor Richard Riordan, labor leader Dolores Huerta, Anthony Thigpenn, and Antonio Gonzalez.

For more information about IRV in Los Angeles visit the website www.IRVinLA.org.

Building a Better Presidential Election

Articles — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 08:42:00 -0400

California is used to power grabs, as are other states of electoral significance, like Ohio and Florida. All three states have seen partisan attempts at redistricting reform, which treated them as pawns on the national political chessboard.

Now in California comes the latest power grab, an attempt to manipulate the Electoral College vote to help Republican candidates for president. GOP operatives are seeking to pass a ballot proposition that will award one electoral vote for each congressional district won by presidential candidates, instead of giving 100 percent of electoral votes to the candidate that wins the statewide popular vote.

In… more

NPR Interview with Mark Schmitt at Bloggers' Convention

Communications — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:00:00 -0400

New America in the News:

Senior Fellow Mark Schmitt talks with National Public Radio about his blogging on TPMCafe.com, while attending the YearlyKos Convention in Chicago:

LYDEN: And you -- looking to have an impact here on the campaign?

Mr. SCHMITT: I'm not looking to have too much of an impact on the campaign. I'm more interested in how different issues are playing out in the campaign. So I, you know, if I'll write about tax policy, I'll comment on how I think some of the different candidates are handling an issue like that or an issue like political reform, CAFE finance reform, which I was on a panel about today, rather than trying to have an impact, you know, in terms of supporting one candidate or the other.

LYDEN: Well, let me ask you. This is billed as the blogging convention that is the highest profile so far for political candidates. Do you feel like you're satisfied with getting access to them, with getting them to come and deal with you as the -- dare I say this -- media of the future?

Mr. SCHMITT: One could hardly be dissatisfied...

For the complete story, visit the NPR web site.

David Lesher Discusses Redistricting in San Jose Mercury News

Communications — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:39:00 -0500

New America in the News:

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is signaling that he will push strongly for redistricting reform next year to change California's gerrymandered election process, relying on the same bipartisan course he steered successfully this year.

Voters rejected the governor's redistricting ballot initiative in last year's special election. Legislative leaders were unable to work out a deal in time for this November's vote, but there appears to be renewed interest from both parties to fix a flawed system...

Doolittle rejected any approach that would involve retired judges, such as Schwarzenegger's failed initiative from a year ago, Proposition 77. Under that plan, a panel of three retired judges would draw new districts.

Other proposed schemes involve commissions of voters chosen at random by the secretary of state's office or panels comprised of partisans and independents.

All those ideas are up for discussion in the next legislative session, said David Lesher, head of the New America Foundation's California program, which has lobbied for reforms. But he said even with the most nonpartisan deal, it's likely that only 10 to 15 percent of California's legislative and congressional seats would be competitive.

"California's so balkanized, with concentrations of Democrats in urban areas and concentrations of Republicans in rural areas, there will always be seats like Doolittle's in California," he said.

Still, he added, "I think there are still far too many seats that should be more competitive than they are..."

For the complete article, please visit the San Jose Mercury News website.