General Assembly Approves National Popular Vote, Pre-Registration on the Governor's Desk
On June 19, the General Assembly approved two companion versions of the National Popular Vote compact. It's a huge victory for FairVote RI, for the NPV coalition, and for the legislators who backed the bill--chief among them House Judiciary Chairman Donald Lally and Senator Daniel Connors.
The key vote followed a robust debate in the House. After discussing the one version (H 7707) for more than 40 minutes, the House passed it by a 36-34 margin. Later in the night the House approved the Senate version by a 34-28 margin.
We won the discussion on the floor, but now we need your help to make the NPV compact law. Please call or write the governor to let him know you want every person to have a voice in the presidential election.
While you're on the phone or writing a letter, speak out about Youth Voter Pre-Registration. It's now been transmitted from the General Assembly to his desk, and we need you to support youth civic engagement.
Assembly Approves National Popular Vote
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FairVote RI Testifies on Proportional Representation in Providence
FairVote
RI Director Ari Savitzky testified last week in front of the Providence
City Council about a cluster of proposals intended to introduce
at-large seats to the council.
Savitzky argued that some of the plans up for consideration wouldn't accomplish the important goals of increasing minority representation and increased competition. If they were implemented in the wrong way, at-large seats might also make it enormously expensive to compete in the city-wide races. Click here for an explanation (PDF) of how choice voting would work in Providence. |
FairVote RI Testifies on Proportional Representation in Providence
FairVote RI Director Ari Savitzky testified last
week in front of the Providence City Council about a cluster of
proposals intended to introduce at-large seats to the council. FairVote RI has proposed a form of choice voting for City
Council at-large seats. Under choice voting, voters rank candidates in
order of preference. Choice voting could potentially increase minority
representation, and would ensure a meaningful vote for every Providence
resident.Savitzky argued that some of the plans up for consideration wouldn't accomplish the important goals of increasing minority representation and increased competition. If they were implemented in the wrong way, at-large seats might also make it enormously expensive to compete in the city-wide races. Click here for an explanation (PDF) of how choice voting would work in Providence. |