The National Popular Vote plan has now passed 21 state legislative chambers – most recently both chambers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Meanwhile, civic support keeps growing, with delegates at the NAACP convention in July voting to endorse the proposal. With four states having adopted the plan, expect significant progress in 2009 , with greater urgency for legislatures to take action in order for enough states to pass it to establish a national popular vote based on voter equality in 2012.Working with National Popular Vote and allies like Common Cause, FairVote plays a central role in this effort with research, education and advocacy. FairVote Rhode Island worked tireless in outreach to legislators and newspaper commentary. FairVote North Carolina’s Torrey Dixon sparked the NAACP resolution, including presenting the case on the floor of the convention. FairVote director Rob Richie was a panelist at a recent Netroots Nation panel and participated in the exhibit booth at the annual National Conference of State Legislatures convention. Fellow Laura Kirshner regularly publishes commentary and is overseeing a new round of research. Stay tuned!
NEW: Lincoln Chafee & FairVote's Ari Savitzky co-author Providence Journal commentary
Press release by FairVote RI’s Ari Savitzky
FairVote commentary in Woonsocket Call, Detroit Free Press and Sharon Advocate
NAACP Resolution to support National Popular Vote
Netroots Nation page on National Popular Vote panel
Poll showing 79% favor a popular vote for president
National Popular Vote
In North Carolina, the state legislature on July 18 sent to the governor
legislation to extend the current pilot program for IRV in localities in
the wake of highly successful IRV elections in 2007 and an endorsement
from the League of Women Voters of NC. In Memphis (TN), a charter
commission has placed IRV on the November ballot, one among several
upcoming IRV measures around the nation. In Long Beach (CA), the Long Beach Press Telegram endorsed the city election director's proposal for IRV. This
fall's five leading candidates for president all have been active
supporters of IRV, while the student-run Roosevelt Institution's new25 Ideas for Electoral Reform features two proposals for instant
runoff voting.