By Matthew Cossolotto
Published September 19th 2002
Warren Christopher ("The Stalling of Election Reform," Op-Ed, Sept. 15) rightly decries the appalling failure on the part of Congress to pass meaningful election reform legislation.
We should not only ensure that votes are actually counted; we should ensure that votes actually count. To do that, the country should engage in a thorough debate -- under the auspices of a presidential commission and various state-level commissions -- about alternative voting systems, including proportional voting methods for representative assemblies and instant runoff voting for one-winner contests.
Not to consider sensible, readily available alternative voting systems as part of our election reform efforts does a disservice to the American electorate and to the future of American democracy.
Matthew Cossolotto
Vice President
Center for Voting and Democracy
We should not only ensure that votes are actually counted; we should ensure that votes actually count. To do that, the country should engage in a thorough debate -- under the auspices of a presidential commission and various state-level commissions -- about alternative voting systems, including proportional voting methods for representative assemblies and instant runoff voting for one-winner contests.
Not to consider sensible, readily available alternative voting systems as part of our election reform efforts does a disservice to the American electorate and to the future of American democracy.
Matthew Cossolotto
Vice President
Center for Voting and Democracy