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In a representative democracy, the right of decision belongs to the majority, but the right to representation belongs to all. FairVote advocates for adoption of proportional voting systems for local and state elections, and for an informed debate about their merits for congressional elections.
Colorado legislature passes bill to advance IRV and choice voting
The Colorado legislature on May 6th gave final passage to HB 1378, a bill to allow all Colorado municipalities and special districts to use instant runoff voting and choice voting. A model for other states, the bill was drafted as a result of recommendations from a legislature-initiated task force on voting methods last year that reviewed a wide array of voting methods, including alternative single-winner methods like approval voting and range voting.

Kudos to Colorado advocates such as Common Cause's Elena Nunez, FairVote Colorado's Rick Van Wie, state representative John Kefalas and senate majority leader Ken Gordon. Two Colorado localities -- Basalt and Aspen -- already have adopted instant runoff voting for mayoral elections.

[Colorado Voter Choice Task Force Report]
[Bill history for HB 1378]
[Commentary in favor of instant runoff voting in Denver]
[Commentary in favor of instant runoff voting in Aspen]



London Holds Its Third Mayoral Election with IRV
On May 1, London held its third mayoral election using a form of instant runoff voting. The Conservative Party's Boris Johnson defeated Labor Party incumbent Ken Livingstone, winning 53% to 47% in the instant runoff. This election had the city's best turnout ever -- a 20% increase compared to the 2004 elections.

Also known as the "supplementary vote," the London system limits voters to a first choice and second choice and moves directly to a second round of voting between the top two finishers. It was first implemented in 2000 after 72% of the London electorate approved direct mayoral elections with IRV by referendum. The system is increasingly popular in England: 12 cities use this form of IRV for mayoral elections.

Londoners also elected the London Assembly (14 members elected directly from constituencies and 11 seats at-large) through a mixed member proportional system. The Conservative and Labor Parties swept the 14 winner-take-all seats, but smaller parties won a total of six seats due to proportional voting. 

[Official Results at London Elects]
[British Analysis Focused on the Assembly Results]
[Animated Guides on London Mayoral and Assembly Elections]
[The Guardian's Coverage]
[Evening Standard Article about Mayoral Election]
[Amy Ngai on the FairVote Blog]


Port Chester New York Seeks Proportional Voting System
FairVote Files Amicus Briefs to Support Proportional Remedy
Port Chester NYA federal district court judge recently found the Village of Port Chester, New York liable for a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The village, which is approximately 46.2% Hispanic, currently uses a staggered at-large voting system, and has never elected a Hispanic person to one of its seven Board of Trustees seats. The village is now seeking a proportional voting remedy, and FairVote has filed two amicus briefs highlighting the benefits of such a proposal. Choice voting, in particular, has a long history of use in New York City, thereby making it a particularly attractive remedy for a Voting Rights Act lawsuit.

[Read FairVote's Briefs]


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Recent Articles
October 19th 2009
A better election system
Lowell Sun

Election expert Doug Amy explains how choice voting can "inject new blood" into the elections of Lowell (MA), and give voters a greater incentive to participate.

October 16th 2009
Haven't Detroit voters spoken enough?
Livingston Daily

In Detroit, there have been three mayors in the past two years and the current one has come under scrutiny. Perhaps a system like instant runoff voting will help bring political stability to motor city.

August 21st 2009
Black candidate for Euclid school board to test new voting system
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Limited voting, a form of proportional voting, will be used in Euclid (OH), in the hopes of allowing better representation of minorities.

July 2nd 2009
Reforming Albany
New York Times

FairVote's Rob Richie responds in a letter to the editor making the case for proportional voting systems to bring substantive reform to New York's legislature.