Washington: Krist Novoselic on FairVote - The Center for Voting and Democracy

Submitted by restore on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 22:58

FairVote acts to transform our elections to achieve universal access to participation, a full spectrum of meaningful ballot choices and majority rule with fair representation for all.

There is a truth that must be heard! FairVote is a catalyst for reforming our elections to respect every vote and every voice through bold approaches to increase voter turnout, meaningful ballot choices and fair representation. As the national organization most focused on fundamental structural reform of American elections, they act as a traditional think tank through careful research, innovative analysis, effective educational resources and timely conferences, but also creatively engage with leading reformers, thought leaders and the media to turn new ideas into widely accepted policy options.

They ground on reform advocacy in fundamental democratic principles and regularly consider new ideas and approaches to uphold those principles. At the same time, they focus their research, education and outreach on several bold yet achievable changes within three general categories:

* Fair access to participation: Fairvote supports universal voter registration, a constitutionally protected right to vote and education preparing youth for their role in our democracy.

* Fair elections: Fairvote supports a national popular vote for president, instant runoff voting for single-winner offices and more transparent and accountable election administration.

* Fair representation: Fairvote supports choice voting and other methods of proportional voting for local, state and national elections.

To carry out their mission, they pursue four core strategies:

1) Generate ideas through innovative research on elections and potential reform.

2) Act as a reform catalyst by drawing attention to their proposals and how they address specific problems in our democracy through media outreach, public education, communications and coalition building.

3) Seek opportunities to learn from the implementation of their reform ideas through strategic advocacy, voting rights litigation and assistance in implementation.

4) Create models of civic learning and voter education designed to prepare everyone for active citizenship through increasing public awareness of our electoral rules, the history of suffrage and ideas for election reform.

Contact:
FairVote
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610
Takoma Park, MD 20912
tel. (301) 270-4616
fax (301) 270-4133
info at fairvote.org


Source: http://www.fairvote.org