By John Anderson
Published June 19th 2004 in The Oregonian
As a member of the Citizens' Debate Commission, I applaud your
editorial in favor of our commission running this year's presidential
debates (June 14). We need public interest formats and candidate
inclusion rules that better inform and inspire citizens.
But better debates are just a start for addressing the problem of a jaded
electorate. This year's high-stakes contest for the White House may cause an uptick in voter turnout -- at least in the 18 battleground states -- but long-term trends are deeply disturbing.
The Panetta Institute for Public Policy this month released a study showing that only 35 percent of college students believe that voting in
presidential elections is a way to bring about meaningful change -- down
sharply from just three years ago.
Our political leaders barely address this political depression. We need to
open up choices in general elections with instant runoff voting, increase
fairness in our campaign finance system, expand the electorate through
universal voter registration, represent more voters with methods of full
representation and ensure federal protection of the right to vote through a
constitutional amendment.
In short, please keep after how we can make our democracy work.
But better debates are just a start for addressing the problem of a jaded
electorate. This year's high-stakes contest for the White House may cause an uptick in voter turnout -- at least in the 18 battleground states -- but long-term trends are deeply disturbing.
The Panetta Institute for Public Policy this month released a study showing that only 35 percent of college students believe that voting in
presidential elections is a way to bring about meaningful change -- down
sharply from just three years ago.
Our political leaders barely address this political depression. We need to
open up choices in general elections with instant runoff voting, increase
fairness in our campaign finance system, expand the electorate through
universal voter registration, represent more voters with methods of full
representation and ensure federal protection of the right to vote through a
constitutional amendment.
In short, please keep after how we can make our democracy work.
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.