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League of
Women Voters Positions
in Support of
Proportional Representation
January
2003
The League of Women Voters has a
long tradition of careful study and consensus building prior to
taking positions. An early step in this study by the Washington
State League for example was an objective study
of voting systems, cataloging of the variety of methods by which
municipal governments can conduct elections, including choice voting, etc.
Carrie Chapman Catt, the founding chair of the
National League of Women Voters, was also an advocate of
proportional representation. Many local Leagues supported
proportional representation in local reform efforts in the first
half of the 20th century. The Cincinnati League of Women Voters
supported cumulative voting (a semi-proportional representation
system) ballot measure in Cincinnati in 1993.
The League of Women Voters of the United States
adopted a study of electoral systems at its convention in June 2000
and has been seeking funding to conduct it among its many hundreds
of state and local branches.
Here are the positions adopted by Washington State, New York City (NY),
Oxford (OH) and Santa Monica (CA):
Washington State League (May 2002)
�Supports adoption of election methods that produce
proportional representation when electing representative government
bodies such as councils, legislatures and Congress.�
New York City, NY League of Women Voters
�supports proportional representation in community
school board elections.�
Oxford, OH League of Women Voters (Spring 1997)
�Supports the use of preference voting for Oxford City
Council and Talawanda City School District elections.�
Santa Monica, CA League of Women
Voters
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
supports consideration of alternative voting systems in Santa
Monica elections with a special emphasis on the single
transferable vote or choice system.
Any system adopted should produce fair and
accurate community representation reflecting the diversity
(racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, etc.) of the community;
increase voter participation and maximize effective votes and
raise the level of political campaigns and increase the focus on
issues, not personalities. The system should be easy for the voter
to use and understand, both in terms of understanding how to vote
and how their vote would be
counted. |
