Warren Christopher ("The Stalling of Election Reform," Op-Ed, Sept. 15) rightly decries the appalling failure on the part of Congress to pass meaningful election reform legislation.

We should not only ensure that votes are actually counted; we should ensure that votes actually count. To do that, the country should engage in a thorough debate -- under the auspices of a presidential commission and various state-level commissions -- about alternative voting systems, including proportional voting methods for representative assemblies and instant runoff voting for one-winner contests.

Not to consider sensible, readily available alternative voting systems as part of our election reform efforts does a disservice to the American electorate and to the future of American democracy.

Matthew Cossolotto
Vice President
Center for Voting and Democracy