The article about cumulative voting rights for Peoria's at-large City
Council elections left the impression that very few places in the
country give cumulative voting rights.

1. This year the Illinois General Assembly passed a law that allows
county boards to give cumulative voting rights to voters in multi-
seat districts.

2. About 70 cities and school boards in the United States (mostly in
Texas and Oklahoma) give cumulative voting rights in at-large
elections.

3. Several Illinois corporations give shareholders cumulative voting
rights in the election of their boards of directors, in order to
allow a minority of shareholders an opportunity to elect a
representative to the board.

While cumulative voting rights are certainly not a mainstream feature
of United States elections, it isn't quite as unique as your article
may have implied.

Dan Johnson-Weinberger
Director, Midwest Democracy Center
Chicago