The State Duma passed on Friday in a first reading a bill providing for proportional representation in parliament, or voting by party lists, and discontinuing election of one half of its members in one-seat constituencies. The bill also bans setting up electoral blocs.
The supporters of the bill believe that when it becomes law the role played by political parties in society and state will increase.
Only those political parties that meet the requirements of the Political Party Law will be allowed to make federal lists of their candidates.
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.