FAIR VOTE’S 2020 REFORM VISIONFairVote goes to the root cause of our electoral dysfunction with a reform agenda grounded in the principle of respect for every vote and every voice. Our work is building the foundation for the following advocacy goals.Respect for our democratic institutions has plunged to an all-time low. Winner-take-all election rules and restrictive primaries channel Americans’ diversity of views into two fiercely partisan camps that rarely cooperate on policy. By treating voting laws as tools for partisan advantage, incumbents put the right to vote at risk. Presidential campaigns ignore most Americans, and winning a majority of votes in congressional elections may not mean winning the most seats. These problems extend to our states and cities. States increasingly suffer from entrenched single party domination, and more than a third of state legislative races are uncontested. Gubernatorial election turnout rarely tops fifty percent and mayors win with even lower and less representative turnout. At all levels of government, women and racial minorities are under-represented.FairVoteFVFairVote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to elections that respect every vote and every voice. We act as an electoral reform catalyst to increase voter turnout, voter choice and fair representation. As the national organization most focused on structural reform of American elections, we pursue innovative research, analysis and communications to turn new ideas into widely accepted policy. Rob RichieExecutive Director -- An expert on international and domestic elections and electoral reform, Rob Richie has directed FairVote since its founding in 1992. Among his activities at FairVote, Richie has: * been a frequent source for print, radio and television journalists, including as a guest on C-SPAN, NBC News, CNN, FOX, MSNBC and NPR's Talk of the Nation, All things Considered, To the Point and Fresh Air; * published commentary in such publications as New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Roll Call, Nation, National Civic Review, Boston Review, Christian Science Monitor and Legal Times;* co-authored two books,Every Vote Equal (2006) and Whose Votes Count (2001) and had his writings appear in seven other books; * Spoken to scores of organizations, including at the annual conventions of the American Political Science Association, National Association of Counties, National Association of Secretaries of state, Unitarian Universalists and National Conference of State Legislatures and to the Voting Section of the U. S. Department of Justice, the Lincoln Day dinners of the Alaska Republican Party in Juneau and Anchorage and several groups of foreign dignitaries through the United States Information Agency; * Worked with congressional and state legislative staff in writing numerous pieces of legislation; * Testified in special sessions before charter commissions in cities in New York, Florida, Ohio, Texas and Michigan and before state legislative committees in Alaska, Vermont, Virginia and Washington; * Helped organize eight well-attended national conferences on electoral system reform and worked with hundreds of state reformers supporting fair election methods; * Toured New Zealand at the invitation of electoral reformers during a successful referendum campaign in that country in 1993 to adopt a proportional voting system; and * edited FairVote's publications, such as its bi-annual analyses of congressional elections that have received prominent news coverage around the nation. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1962, Richie graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in philosophy in 1987. Before co-founding FairVote and becoming its director in 1992, he worked for three winning congressional campaigns in Washington state and for non-profit organizations in Washington and the District of Columbia. He is married to Cynthia Terrell and is the father of three children: Savanna, Lucas and Rebecca.Cynthia TerrellMember Relations -- Cynthia Terrell is a founder of FairVote and has been a board member of several charitable organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee. Terrell has worked in the area of voting system reform in this country and abroad, traveling in 1993 to New Zealand to support that country's successful referendum to adopt a proportional voting system. She also directed the research for several reports produced by FairVote, including analyses of the 1994 and 1996 congressional elections and the 1992 presidential elections. Before helping to found FairVote, Terrell worked extensively as a political consultant around the country, working as campaign manager and field director for campaigns for the U.S. President, U.S. House and U.S. Senate, for governor and for state and city-wide initiative efforts. Among these campaigns were a proposed equal rights amendment in 1992 to the Iowa state constitution, the 1992 presidential campaign of Sen. Tom Harkin, Douglas Wilder's 1989 gubernatorial victory in Virginia and former Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld's congressional campaign in 1990. Terrell also researched the state initiative process for the Fund for the Feminist Majority. Terrell is a mother of three children and active in civic affairs in Takoma Park, Maryland. She graduated with a B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College in 1986.Patricia HartPatricia Hart is a Project Manager at FairVote, where she has worked since 2012. Focusing primarily on voting rights advocacy, Patricia runs FairVote's Promote Our Vote project. She also developed and coordinates advocacy for FairVote's Representation 2020 project, which catalyzes and broadens dialogue on measures for increased women's representation in elected office. During her time on these projects, Patricia has appeared on C-SPAN, HuffPost Live, and written op-eds for publications like The Hill. Before joining the team at FairVote, Patricia served as a congressional intern and participated in several political campaigns in her home-state of Kentucky. While in college, she led and participated in projects aimed at gender equality, LGBT rights, sustainability and social mobility. Patricia studied political science and public relations.Andrea LevienAndrea Levien is a Research Associate focused on Electoral College reform and women in politics. She is the lead author of Representation 2020's State of Women's Representation 2013 report and of FairVote's Presidential Election Inequality 2012 report, to be released this fall. While at FairVote, she has published an article in Presidential Studies Quarterly and has appeared on C-SPAN and WJLA-TV, ABC 7's D.C. news affiliate. Andrea graduated from Yale in 2012 with a B.A. in political science with distinction. While at Yale, she researched and advocated for progressive policies such as the Connecticut DREAM Act and the New Haven Promise Program with the Yale College Democrats and the Roosevelt Institute. During her summers, she interned at Human Rights First, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and the Hotline for Migrant Workers in Tel Aviv. She is from New York City.Andrew Spencer Drew Spencer is a Staff Attorney at FairVote, where he has worked since 2012. He has focused on FairVote's work on racial minority vote dilution and the Voting Rights Act as well as ranked choice voting and related issues. In addition, he helped to launch FairVote's podcast, FairVote Voices, with Elizabeth Hudler. He co-authored The Right Choice for Elections: How Choice Voting Will End Gerrymandering and Expand Minority Voting Rights, From City Councils to Congress, which was published in the University of Richmond Law Review's March 2013 issue, with Rob Richie. He has also appeared on RT with Krist Novoselic to discuss FairVote's reforms. While in law school, Drew specialized in election law and policy and public interest issues. He served as Executive Note Editor for the Arizona Law Review and published an article on public financing of elections both in the Arizona Law Review and in Arizona Attorney Magazine. Devin McCarthyDevin McCarthy is a Research Associate at FairVote focusing on U.S. congressional elections, proportional representation, and international elections. While at FairVote, he has been published in Salon, In These Times, andThe Philadelphia Inquirer, and has appeared on HuffPost Live. He is the lead author and editor of the Monopoly Politics/Fair Voting 2014 report. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he majored in history and government. His thesis, National Selection: The United States and the Recognition of New European States in 1919 and 1991, studied the factors that influenced U.S. state recognition policy over the course of the 20th century. Dania N. Korkor Dania N. Korkor is a Legal Fellow at FairVote and recipient of the Mary Wohlford grant. In 2013, she graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Public Policy and Management from The Ohio State University John Glenn School of Public Affairs. While in law school, she specialized in Dispute Resolution. Additionally, she took courses regarding election law and disputed elections and served as a research assistant to Professor Edward Foley, the Director of "Election Law @ Moritz." Dania was the Editor-in-Chief of the Ohio State Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal. Dania has focused her studies and professional experience on promoting democracy and encouraging the use of alternative dispute resolution to address conflict. She has significant experience working with federal, state, and local governments. She served as a policy intern at the State Department in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the Office of Near Eastern Affairs and a legal intern at the Ohio Senate. Additionally, she worked for the Ohio Attorney General, a local Ohio mayor, and the Department of Defense. Dania earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology and Arabic language from Case Western Reserve University in 2010.Rais Akbar Rais Akbar is a Legal Fellow at FairVote. He is a 2011 graduate of Howard University School of Law, and is completing an LL.M. in law and government program at American University Washington College of Law. He has been admitted to the Maryland Bar. During law school, Rais focused primarily on civil rights law and policy, and was a student attorney in the school's civil rights clinic, where, among other projects and amicus briefs, he co-authored a report on the possibilities for full voting representation in the House of Representatives for the District of Columbia at the request of local activists and civic leaders.Amanda Gaynor Amanda is an Advocacy Fellow at FairVote. Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, Amanda graduated from Wellesley College this May where she double majored in Political Science and Spanish. Her political science capstone research focused on the impact of voter identification laws on minority populations in swing states. During her time at Wellesley, Amanda spent two summers interning for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and participated in his reelection campaign in November 2012. She also worked as a research assistant at the Wellesley Centers for Women, the largest social science organization in the United States dedicated to gender research. Amanda was introduced to FairVote and its reforms at the age of sixteen when she testified before the State Senate Judiciary Committee in support of a bill that would allow sixteen year olds to pre-register to vote. Many years later, Amanda is thrilled to be joining the FairVote team and looks forward to working hard over the next year to help it continue to achieve its goals. Andrew Douglas Andrew Douglas is a Research Fellow at FairVote, focusing on ranked choice voting and international elections. He has also contributed research to FairVote's Monopoly Politics and State of Women's Representation reports. Originally from Oklahoma City, Andrew graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2009 with a B.A. in political science and a minor in history, and earned an M.A. in international studies in 2012 His master's thesis, Balance of Power Theory and Mexican Drug Cartels, examined political interactions between Mexican drug trafficking organizations.Angele Cossee Angele Cossee is an intern at FairVote, where she focuses on research and advocacy. She is currently enrolled in undergraduate studies at Sciences Po Paris where she studies humanities. She studies political science, political philosophy, sociology, law, history, and economics. She will be working in Communications, and assisting with ongoing projects.Kemi Adekoya Kemi is an intern at FairVote, focused on communications and research. She will assist staff on advocacy projects. Currently a third year student at Sciences Po., Kemi will graduate in 2016. Sciences Po is a multidisciplinary school where she has studied politics, sociology, public law and history. FairVote Board of DirectorsFairVote’s 11-member Board of Directors represents a mix of national leaders and local reformers who reflect a broad range of experiences and accomplishments. Please see their biographical sketches in the right-hand navigation bar. Our officers are: chair Krist Novoselic, musician and author; vice-chair Eddie Hailes, general counsel with the Advancement Project; secretary Cynthia Terrell, a Corporation member of the American Friends Service Committee; and treasurer William Redpath, a licensed CPA. The Board meets in-person and by phone ten times a year, and provides overall direction and fundraising assistance to FairVote. Members serve on committees and work directly with staff. FairVote also has advisory committees for its key project areas. Please Note: FairVote is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt, publicly supported organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. Board members act in an individual capacity and not as a representation of any political affiliation. Members’ political affiliations do not constitute an endorsement by FairVote. FairVote does not support, endorse, or oppose any political party or candidate. Any comments made by a board member acting in his/her individual capacity are personal and do not reflect FairVote’s views. Krist NovoselicChair -- A member of the groundbreaking rock band Nirvana, Krist Novoselic, along with bandmates Kurt Cobain and David Grohl, changed the course of music history when they snapped up Billboard Magazine's number one spot with their much-acclaimed album Nevermind. In doing so, Nirvana opened the doors for a flood of a new generation of bands. After Nirvana, Novoselic went on to become one of rock's most politically-minded musicians. Krist has also committed himself to numerous different community projects and has become an influential part of the Northwest political scene. Krist joined FairVote's Board in 2005 and was elected chair in 2008.Edward HailesVice Chair -- Edward Hailes, Jr., an experienced civil rights attorney and an ordained Baptist minister, is general counsel and managing director with the Advancement Project, a democracy and justice action group. He formerly served as the general counsel for the United States Commission on Civil Rights, directing the federal agency’s historic investigation into allegations of voting irregularities in Florida during the November 2000 presidential election and the Commission’s high-profile hearing on police practices and civil rights in New York City after the police shooting of Amadou Diallo. Mr. Hailes also served for 10 years as a legal, then legislative, counsel for the NAACP, gaining a remarkable record of success in civil rights litigation and legislative advocacy on behalf of the organization. A graduate of the Howard University School of Law, he also earned his undergraduate degree at Howard University as an Honors Program graduate. Reverend Hailes is the Assistant to the Pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Cynthia TerrellBoard Secretary -- Cynthia Terrell is a founder of FairVote and has served as a board member of several charitable organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee. Terrell has worked in the area of voting system reform in this country and abroad, traveling in 1993 to New Zealand to support that country's successful referendum to adopt a proportional voting system. She also directed the research for several reports produced by FairVote, including analyses of the 1994 and 1996 congressional elections and the 1992 presidential elections. Before helping to found FairVote, Terrell worked extensively as a political consultant around the country, working as campaign manager and field director for campaigns for the U.S. President, U.S. House and U.S. Senate, for governor and for state and city-wide initiative efforts. Among these campaigns were a proposed equal rights amendment in 1992 to the Iowa state constitution, the 1992 presidential campaign of Sen. Tom Harkin, Douglas Wilder's 1989 gubernatorial victory in Virginia and former Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld's congressional campaign in 1990. Terrell also researched the state initiative process for the Fund for the Feminist Majority. Terrell is a mother of three children and active in civic affairs in Takoma Park, Maryland. She graduated with a B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College in 1986. William RedpathTreasurer -- William Redpath has served as the Treasurer since 1995. Mr. Redpath has been a member of the Libertarian Party since 1984, having run for office five times in Virginia, including being the Libertarian candidate for Governor in 2001, U.S. Senate in 2008, and US House of Representatives, Tenth District, in 2010. He is currently an At-Large Representative on the Libertarian National Committee, and was Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee from 2006 to 2010. He is also a former Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Virginia. Mr. Redpath was Ballot Access Committee Chair of the Libertarian Party from 1990 to 1997, successfully leading the party to 50 state ballot status for its presidential tickets in both 1992 and 1996. This was the first time that a U.S. minor political party qualified its presidential ticket for the ballot in all states in successive elections. Professionally, Mr. Redpath is a Vice President with BIA/Kelsey, which offers financial and strategic advisory services for the media, telecommunications, and related industries. Prior to joining BIA in 1985, Mr. Redpath was a Senior Financial Analyst with NBC in New York. Prior to that, Mr. Redpath was a staff auditor in the Cincinnati office of Arthur Andersen & Co., from 1980 to 1982. Subsequent to that, he was Assistant Financial Manager of WISH-TV, Indianapolis. He then joined the Internal Audit Department of ABC in New York, after which, in 1984, he took the position with NBC. Mr. Redpath earned his B.A. degree in Economics and Political Science from Indiana University and his M.B.A. from The University of Chicago. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, from which he has earned the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation. He is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the American Society of Appraisers, is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and has earned the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) designation from the CFA Institute. John B. AndersonChair Emeritus -- Former presidential candidate John B. Anderson served as chair of FairVote from 1996 until 2008 after four years as chair of our Advisory Board. Mr. Anderson served in the U,S. House of Representatives for two decades and received six million votes as an independent candidate for president in 1980, Mr. Anderson has frequently represented Fairvote on major media outlets and has been a frequent lecturer and expert commentator on issues of electoral reform, United Nations reform, foreign affairs, American politics, and independent candidacies. He has published widely on the role of Congress in both domestic and international affairs. Between 1961 and 1981, Mr. Anderson served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 16th District of Illinois. He served on the House Rules Committee and for a decade was Chairman of the House Republican Conference. For more than a decade Mr. Anderson teaches constitutional law at Nova Southeastern University. He taught political science and law as a visiting professor at numerous universities, including Bryn Mawr College, Brandeis University, Stanford University, Oregon State University, the University of Illinois and the Washington School of Law. Mr. Anderson earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, received an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School in 1949, and has since been awarded honorary doctorates of law from Wheaton College and Trinity College. During World War II, Mr. Anderson was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Field Artillery. In foreign service between 1952 and 1955, he was Economic Reporting Officer in the Eastern Affairs Division. He served as States Attorney in Winnebago County, Illinois for four years.Hendrik HertzbergBoard Member -- Hendrik Hertzberg, a member of FairVote’s board since 1995, is a senior editor of The New Yorker, where he frequently writes the "Comment" column of political commentary. He has written for that magazine off and on since 1969, when, after serving in the U.S. Navy, he became a staff writer for "The Talk of the Town." When Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976, Mr. Hertzberg left The New Yorker for what turned out to be a sixteen-year absence. He joined the White House staff as a junior speechwriter and in 1979 became President Carter’s chief speechwriter. He accompanied Carter on his travels in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and worked on all his major speeches up to and including the (unscheduled) Farewell Address. It was this hands-on experience at the highest levels of government that prompted Mr. Hertzberg to become interested in the effect of electoral systems not only on policy formation but also on the general political health of a modern democracy. For more than a decade after Carter’s re-election defeat Mr. Hertzberg was associated with The New Republic, alternating with Michael Kinsley as the magazine’s editor. During Mr. Hertzberg’s second and final three-year stint in the editor’s chair, TNR twice won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence—the magazine world’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. In between editorial stints he wrote for TNR and many other magazines from a base at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he was a fellow at the Institute of Politics and the Shorenstein Center for the Press, Politics, and Public Policy. Mr. Hertzberg rejoined The New Yorker in 1992, initially as executive editor under Tina Brown. He lives in New York City with his wife, Virginia Cannon, also a New Yorker senior editor, and their young son. He is the author of "Politics: Observations & Arguments," published by Penguin Books. His blog for the New Yorker online can be read here. David WilnerBoard Member -- David Wilner co-founded Wind River Systems in 1981 and for many years was its Chief Technical Officer. He is a recognized expert in the field of real-time software engineering. Before founding the company, Mr. Wilner was a Senior Staff Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. He is an expert on computers and technology, topics that are increasingly relevant to electoral reform. Katie GhoseBoard Member -- In 2010, Katie Ghose became Chief Executive of the Election Reform Society, an organization in the United Kingdom that promotes alternative voting systems. A campaigner and barrister with a background in human rights law and immigration, she served as a Commissioner on the Independent Asylum Commission from 2006-2008, where she helped to conduct the biggest ever independent review of the UK asylum system leading to the government's commitment to get rid of the detention of children in immigration centers. She has worked as a lobbyist and campaigner for several third sector organizations including Age UK and Citizens Advice and spent five years as Director of the British Institute of Human Rights. Katie has delivered lectures, seminars and courses on campaigns and public affairs the UK for a range of charities, public bodies and lawyers. Her first book Beyond the Courtroom: a lawyer’s guide to campaigning was published by Legal Action Group in 2005. Paul JacobBoard Member -- Paul Jacob is one of the nation's leading advocates of term limits and of initiative and referendum rights. He has worked on over 100 initiative and ballot access campaigns throughout the United States. For more than ten years, Paul led U.S. Term Limits, the nation's largest term limits group, and today is president of Citizens in Charge, a non-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization Paul hosts Common Sense, an online, radio and print opinion program. He writes a weekly column for Townhall.com and his writing has been featured in numerous publications including USA Today, The New York Daily News, The Washington Times, and The Chicago Tribune. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN's "Inside Politics," NBC's "Today" show and ABC's "Nightline." Paul spoke at a 1995 conference organized by FairVote in Boston and has campaigned for ranked choice voting in states such as Washington.Esperanza Tervalon-DaumontBoard Member -- Esperanza Tervalon-Daumont is the executive director of Oakland Rising, a multilingual, multiracial collaborative that educates and mobilizes voters in Oakland, California. She has over a decade of community and political organizing experience, including as political director for Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a community organizer in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, and a labor relations representative with the Service Employees International Union. During her five years at Oakland Rising, Esperanza has led efforts to build a permanent political and electoral infrastructure, and mentored staff from partner organizations and community members to conduct voter outreach and field programs. She graduated from Mills College with a B.A. in English Literature. Esperanza has been a community leader on ranked choice voting in Oakland for several years, playing a leading role in community education in its first use in 2010.Tim HayesBoard Member -- Tim Hayes is the founder and Executive Producer at CBGB Festival, New York City's largest showcase of music, film, art, social awareness and entertainment industry workshops and conferences. Named for the iconic music club that fostered emerging American music in the 1970s, CBGB Festival serves as a meeting point for musicians, fans, and entertainment industry professionals. Tim also founded Productions New York and has served as its President since 2006. Prior to starting Productions New York, he worked as a Production Executive at the Walt Disney Company for seven years.FairVote Advisory CommitteesFairVote has an advisory committee comprised of former members of its Board of Directors. It also has special advisory committees for its projects Representation 2020 and Promote Our Vote.Nikolas BowieHarvard law studentKahlil ByrdPresident of StudentsFirstErin Bowserformer Executive Director of Environment OhioAntonio GonzalezPresident of Southwest Voter Registration Education ProjectMalia LazuExecutive Director of Future Boston AllianceLaura LiswoodCEO of Council on Women's World LeadersPete MartineauBoard Member of Californians for Electoral ReformNina Moseleyformer Executive Director of Democracy SouthClay MulfordCOO of National Math and Science InitiativeRashad RobinsonExecutive Director at Color or ChangeKatherine SpillarExecutive Editor of Ms. MagazineRepresentation 2020 LeadershipRepresentation 2020 is a project of the electoral reform group FairVote, and is run by its staff and Board of Directors. Our Leadership Circle provides regular guidance on our programs and publications, and meets at least once a year to discuss our work and progress.Martha BurkCo-Founder of the Center for Advancement of Public PolicyKathleen Drewformer Washington State SenatorBarbara KleinPresident of the League of Women Voters in ArizonaPaula LeeVice President of the Board and Legislative Director for the Californians for Electoral ReformLaura LiswoodFounder and Secretary General of the Council of Women World LeadersJamie RaskinMaryland Democratic State Senator and Professor American University's Washington College of LawMarie WilsonFounder and former President of the White House ProjectJoseph ZimmermanProfessor at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University of AtlantaRanked Choice Voting Research Advisory CommitteeLarry DiamondSenior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Harvard UniversityRichard DeLeonProfessor Emeritus of Political Science, San Francisco State UniversityTodd DonovanProfessor of Political Science, Western Washington UniversityDavid FarrellProfessor of Politics, University College DublinDavid KimballProfessor of Political Science, University of Missouri-St. LouisMartha KropfAssociate Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina at CharlotteArend LijphartProfessor Emeritus of Political Science, University of California at San DiegoSteven J. MulroyAssociate Professor of Law, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of MemphisJack NagelProfessor Emeritus of Political Science, University of PennsylvaniaBenjamin ReillyDean, Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs, Murdoch UniversityCarolina J. TolbertProfessor of Political Science, University of IowaPromote Our Vote Leadership FairVote's Promote Our Vote project is governed by the staff and board of directors of FairVote. Promote Our Vote's Leadership Circle provides regular advice and is offered an opportunity to meet at least once every year to discuss the work and its progress. Here are its members in alphabetical order.Steve CobbleAssociate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies Josh DouglasProfessor at University of Kentucky College of LawAnita EarlsResearch Fellow and Professor at Duke University's College for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and GenderAdam FogelChief of Staff for Montgomery County Council member Nancy NavarroGeoff FosterAssociate Director of Political Action at the United Teen Equality Center Ron HaydukProfessor of Political Science at Queens College, CUNYDan JohnsonPartner at Korey Cotter Heather & Richardson LLCAlexander Keyssarthe Stirling Professor of History and Social Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of GovernmentEugene KinlowPublic Affairs Director of DC VotePeter LevineDirector of CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic LearningTim MaleCouncil member for Takoma Park City Council & Vice President for Conservation Policy at Defenders of WildlifeMarc MauerExecutive Director of The Sentencing ProjectMichael McDonaldAssociate Professor of Government and Politics at George Mason University John NicholsPolitical Writer at The NationLarry Ottingerformer President of the Center for Lobbying in the Public InterestJamie RaskinMaryland State SenatorRashad RobinsonExecutive Director of Color of ChangeBennet SingerWriter and Filmmaker Jacob SoboroffHost and Producer of HuffPost LivePeter WagnerCo-Founder the Prison Policy Initiative Frank Watkins Ilir ZherkaExecutive Director of the National Conference on Citizenship ... respect for every vote and every voice.To address the root cause of our electoral dysfunctionRepresentative DemocracyNational MovementLead a national movement for a truly representative democracy.1WomenRacial MinoritiesMajor PartiesIndependentsThird PartiesRESPECT EVERY VOTE -- FairVote will lead a national movement for a truly representative democracy. ... The nation will honor the centennial of women’s suffrage by backing new policies to promote women’s representation. Voting without a chance of fair representation is not real democracy. Every American should be able to elect preferred candidates, and our legislatures should reflect the people they represent. Winner-take-all elections are dysfunctional in today’s climate of partisan polarization. They can undercut the basic principle of majority rule and produce unrepresentative legislatures and unaccountable incumbents. We must replace winner-take-all systems with fair representation voting plans in ways consistent with our history and the Constitution. Our reform coalition will include women, racial minorities, supporters of independents and third parties, and major party backers seeking more representative legislatures and the ability to win seats everywhere. To ensure voters will have real choices, fair representation and geographically coherent districts, FairVote will build support for a federal law to require the use of independent redistricting commissions to draw fair representation voting plans. We will help win fair voting for state legislative elections, and expand the use of fair voting to resolve voting rights cases. We will celebrate the 2020 centennial of women’s suffrage by building support for policies to support the goal of women and men being equally likely to win in any given election. GerrymanderingCongress will end gerrymandering by passing a law that requires independent redistricting commissions to draw fair representation voting plans.1.1Legislative ElectionsTwo states will adopt fair voting for legislative elections.1.2CoalitionsForge coalitions to make our votes count.2RESPECT EVERY VOICE -- FairVote will forge coalitions to make our votes count... Our electoral rules should ensure our votes matter in every election. But plurality voting and current electoral college rules waste too many votes. Our usual plurality voting system for single winner offices such as president, governor and mayor, break down when more than two candidates run. With more unaffiliated voters, we need to allow more challengers to run without ‘spoiler’ fears and unrepresentative outcomes. Ranked choice voting (RCV) has won in a growing number of cities and is under serious consideration in states like Maine and Minnesota. FairVote will remove administrative barriers to RCV, create resources for advocacy and implementation, and partner with state and local reformers in strategic advocacy. The National Popular Vote agreement is already law in states representing nearly half of the 270 electoral votes necessary for it to be activated in 2016. Once enacted, it will make every vote equal by guaranteeing election of the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Since the reform campaign’s launch in 2006, FairVote has been the research and education engine about problems with the current rules and the case for the National Popular Vote plan.National Popular VoteStates will enact the National Popular Vote plan and guarantee the White House to the popular vote winner.2.1Gubernatorial ElectionsThree states will accommodate voter choice by adopting ranked choice voting for gubernatorial elections.2.2StatesSuffrageBe the catalyst for a modern suffrage movement.3PROMOTE EVERY VOTE -- We need to affirm voting as a fundamental right and commit to protect, promote and expand suffrage. 2020 GOAL: FairVote will be the catalyst for a modern suffrage movement... We need to affirm voting as a fundamental right and commit to protect, promote and expand suffrage. Recent battles over voting rights underscore the need for both an affirmative right to vote in the U.S. Constitution and widespread commitment to put the rights of voters ahead of partisan considerations. FairVote’s Promote Our Vote campaign will lead to thousands of cities, campuses and organizations passing resolutions calling for an affirmative constitutional right to vote and committing to concrete actions to protect, promote and expand suffrage. FairVote will build support for a constitutional amendment, engage in effective communication and act as a clearinghouse for local action on suffrage.Right to VoteA majority in Congress will support an affirmative right to vote in the Constitution.3.1Localities & StatesMore than 1,000 localities and 20 states will pass resolutions to protect, promote and expand suffrage.3.2LocalitiesStates2013-11-23http://www.fairvote.org/assets/2020Goals/2020Vision.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net