Fair Representation Act (U.S. 2019-2020)
This bill requires
(1) that ranked choice voting (a system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference) be used for all elections for Members of the House of Representatives, [this means preferential transferable voting/ranked ballots]
(2) that states entitled to six or more Representatives establish districts such that three to five Representatives are elected from each district, and
(3) that states entitled to fewer than six Representatives elect all Representatives on an at-large basis.
The bill also requires that congressional redistricting be conducted in accordance with a plan developed by
(1) a state-established independent commission; or
(2) if such a commission fails to enact a plan, a three-judge panel from a U.S. District Court.
The equivalent for Canada could be:
This bill requires (1) that PR-STV (a system in which each voter casts a single vote and ranks candidates in order of preference) be used for all elections for Members of Parliament in cities of more than 50,000 voters. [this means at least two MPs, I think]
(2) that cities entitled to eight or more MPs establish districts such that three to seven MPs are elected from each district, and
(3) that cities entitled to fewer than eight MPs elect all MPs on an at-large basis.
(4) that if a majority of voters in two or more adjoining districts not totally within the corporate limits of a city vote to switch to STV (to a maximum of five districts), then a multi-member district would be constituted of those districts and their MPs would be elected through STV. It could work if it would be passed. And it might pass if the U.S. is using it.
The formulation of the committee doing the districting would need legislation. But there would be less concern about gerrymandering if voters everywhere are represented fairly.
For a large city, where more than one district is needed, the districting committee should have to have guidelines to set up districts in such a way as to give as the most seats in each as possible as practical. A couple districts in the 6 to 10 seat range would be more proportional than four districts in the three to five seat range.
Something to think about.
Thanks for reading.
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What is STV?
From a 1902 reform magazine: "Thinking it well to have in every number something by way of a brief explanation of proportional voting, I repeat in this number the following. Proportional representation means the use of a reasonable and scientific system of voting instead of the present stupid, unfair and inefficient procedure. Methods: There are several systems by which the principle of proportional representation may be given effect to. Large electoral districts, each electing several members, are a necessary feature. The "quota" plan is usually employed. It means that a quota of the votes elects one representative. To arrive at the quota, the number of valid votes cast is divided by the number of seats to be filled. For instance in a seven-member district any one-seventh of the voters could elect one representative and the other six-sevenths could not interfere with their choice. The three principal systems of proportional representation are the Free List as used in Switzerland and Belgium [party-list pro-rep], the Hare system as used in Tasmania [STV], and the Gove System as advocated in Massachusetts. The Preferential Vote [Alternative Voting/Instant Run-off Voting] -- This is used in the election of single officers such as a mayor. It is not strictly a form of pro-rep but is akin thereto, and uses part of the same voting methods. The object of preferential voting is to encourage the free nomination of candidates and to obtain always a clear majority at one balloting, no matter how many candidates are nominated." (From the Proportional Representation Review Dec. 1902, p. 77) (Hathi Trust online resource, page 81/180) ================================== Thanks for reading. Check out my blog "List of Montopedia blogs concerning electoral reform" to find other blogs on this important subject. ----------------------------------- This year: * 100th Anniversary of the United Farmers of Alberta government being elected on promise to bring in electoral reform, a promise fulfilled three years later.
* 50th anniversary of the last STV city election in Canada. Calgary elected 14 city councillors through STV, and then switched to FPTP for city elections. By that time, more than 54 years after the first STV city election, anyone old enough to have voted using X voting in a city election would have had to be 75 years old.
* 50th Anniversary of election of Lougheed's Progressive-Conservatives. With only 46 percent of the vote they took more than 60 percent of the seats. NDP received 11 percent of the vote but elected just one (Grant Notley), instead of the nine MLAs it was due.
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