Breakthroughs toward light of Democracy

Cross-country Election Props to be Thankful for

The biggest story surrounding U.S. Elections 2018 was not a color wave or the president’s campaign against an immigrant caravan or the Democrats’ focus on presidential demeanor—but rather U.S. voters’ “revolt against the political status quo,” writes Independent Voter Network (IVN) editor Shawn M. Griffiths. Though the record-setting performance was ignored by most media outlets, he says, the election cycle of 2018 achieved election reform’s “most groundbreaking year in half a century.”

Some of Griffiths’ notes

S

mall “d” Democratic Choice, Choosing Office Holders

… Maine voters made history in 2018 by being the first to vote in statewide, legislative, and non-presidential federal primary elections using ranked choice voting. Voters also used it in the general election for U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

…the first time in U.S. history that ranked choice voting decided the outcome of a US House race.

Las Cruces, New Mexico; Amherst, Massachusetts; and St. Louis Park, Minnesota—three local governments approved use of ranked choice voting in 2018

Santa Fe, New Mexico

In-place voting machine technology supports ranked choice voting

Santa Fe also used ranked choice voting for the first time in 2018 for city elections, a decade after city voters approved its use.

Ranked choice voting was used to decide mayor’s race.

Memphis, Tennessee

Voters (by nearly 63 percent) rejected proposal to repeal ranked choice voting, scheduled for implementation in 2019; and rejected a proposal to extend term limits for city council members.

Fargo, North Dakota

First U.S. jurisdiction in the US to adopt Approval Voting which allows voters to select as many candidates as they want in an election and the candidate receiving the highest vote count wins.

Lane County, Oregon

First “STAR Voting”— proposal allowing voters to rate candidates on scale of 0-5 stars—sets historic record by reaches election ballots. And promoters vow resubmission of proposal on 2020 ballot.

C

ountering Corruption, and Rigging

Missouri

This state takes on influence peddling, government for sale, tribal maneuvering—Amendment 1. Voters pass most comprehensive government reform proposal, after having overcome an attempt by special interests to bar the reform Amendment from the 2018 ballot.The Amendment — 

Bans nearly all gifts from lobbyists (placing a limit of $5)

Requires lawmakers to wait two years before becoming lobbyists 

Requires legislative records to be open to the public 

Establishes contribution limits for legislative candidates — state senate candidates $2,500, state house candidates $2,000 Puts in measures to prevent groups from working around contribution caps and bars fundraising on state capitol grounds

Establishes nonpartisan redistricting process, with a nonpartisan expert to draw the legislative map and a citizens’ commission to review it

Qualifications count, too: Amendment inserts specific guidelines to ensure that a person hired by the state auditor meets the qualifications and criteria for the role

Michigan

The state approves first proposal to increase influence of independents. Not unlike Missouri’s Amendment 1, Proposal 2 first survives special interests’ challenge; then on the ballot “establishes a 13-member citizens’ redistricting commission— comprised of four Republicans, four Democrats, five citizens registered outside political parties—to draw electoral maps.”

Utah

Voters approve Proposition 4 creating “a 7-member citizens’ redistricting commission” whose approval of new maps mandates five commissioners in a body made up of Republicans (2), Democrats (2), independents (2); and a governor-appointed chairperson.

Massachusetts creates a citizens’ commission to advance a U.S. constitutional amendment to limit the influence of money in politics.

Baltimore, Denver, and New York City voters approve “public financing of elections” and “campaign finance city charters.”

M

onitoring, Mandating Ethics in Politics

New Mexico, North Dakota establish Ethics commissions

North Dakota’s “Measure 1,” in addition to establishing an ethics commission, prohibits foreign political contributions, requires transparency in funding sources, and addresses lobbyists and conflicts of interest.

Alaska

After voters submitted sufficient signatures to put “good government reforms” on the 2018 ballot, the Alaska legislature four months earlier approved a bill similar to North Dakota’s, though lacking an ethics commission

T

hose are breakthroughs worthy of thanksgiving.

Sources

Independent Voter Network (IVN) “Here is Everywhere Nonpartisan Reform Won Big in 2018” Shawn M. Griffiths in Electoral Reform November 19, 2018 https://ivn.us/2018/11/19/everywhere-nonpartisan-reform-won-big-2018/

IVN Election Reform Editor Shawn M. Griffiths is a Texas native living in San Diego California, who has, according to IVN’s website, “several years experience covering the broad scope of political and election reform efforts across the country” and “an extensive knowledge of the election reform movement” more generally.

IVN “Federal Judge Denies GOP Congressman’s Attempt to Stop Ranked Choice Voting Count”  … “Maine voters approved the use of ranked choice voting at the ballot box twice. Its current use has been upheld by the courts already, and ranked choice voting has never been ruled unconstitutional by any federal court on U.S. constitutional grounds.” ● Update 11/15/18, 12:30 pm ET: “After the second round of votes were tabulated, Jared Golden over took U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s marginal lead and has been proclaimed the apparent winner with 50.53% of the vote. This was the first U.S. House race in history to be decided by ranked choice voting.” ● Update: 11/15/18, 1:00 pm ET: “U.S. Rep Bruce Poliquin announced on Twitter before the second round tabulation that he would continue his legal challenge against ranked choice voting even if he won. He is asking Judge Walker to rule on the constitutionality of ranked choice voting by December 14.” Shawn M. Griffiths in Electoral Reform November 15, 2018 https://ivn.us/2018/11/15/federal-judge-denies-gop-congressman-attempt-stop-ranked-choice-voting/

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