Since multi-member districts just may be something new to some folks, let’s take a very few minutes to hit the highlights!
Why should, or more likely must, America have multi-members districts for the House of Representatives?
· Because they foster having more than two effective parties.
Why is having more than two effective parties a good thing?
· Because having multiple effective parties promotes proportionality to the beliefs of those voting, diverse viewpoints in congress, negotiation and compromise in congress, and preventing one party from having control of everything including the House Speaker choice, committee chairpersons, rules, floor debate, etc.
· Because the present system of having a two-party dichotomy has caused constant battle in which the highest calling for both is damaging the other – a zero-sum game.
· Because it has led essentially to elimination of anyone not affiliated with one of the two parties.
· Because it led to gerrymandering and “safe” seats (now nearing 90%), not competition, and also to poor voter turnout. #gerrymandering
· Because the Primary system has evolved into one wherein the “winner” often garners only a distinct minority of the votes cast in that party’s primary, let’s say 30%, and a much smaller percentage in the general election.
· Because the USA is virtually alone in important democracies in having only two parties and in using primary elections to choose candidates for those parties.
· Because the above reasons lead to the current expensive frustration with which we are all so familiar.
What are multi-member districts?
· Replacing our present single-member districts imposed on America in 1967 by congress, they are House districts with multiple members – except limited to the number allocated by the census that can be as low as 1 member for a state.
· Any party can run one or more candidates in a district election.
· Primaries are no longer needed.
· Supposing a state had 8 seats, it might have two districts of four House members each. The election in each district would elect four persons at one time, those with the four highest numbers of votes. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) would let each voter rank as many of the candidates as desired by writing 1, 2, 3, etc. by their names. The “instant runoff” of RCV would produce the four winners immediately. Candidates could be from multiple parties or independents. By the way, using RCV for Senate elections would also allow elimination of primaries there and promote more proportional elections.
How can we make the needed changes?
· The constitution’s Article I, Section 4 gives the legislatures of the states the power to govern election of Senators and Representatives, but then goes on to say “but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations…” In 1967, congress passed a law requiring single-member districts. It seems obvious that congress has the power to give the states back the power to create multi-member districts or institute a requirement for them nationwide.
I sincerely hope that this succinct story giving the Why, What, and How of multi-member districts and their huge potential to get our country on a much better path helps you. Much more detail can be found at www.solveamericangridlock.com. #congress
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