Voice for Democracy

Newsletter of Californians for Electoral Reform

Spring 2008

In This Issue

President's Letter

President’s Letter

CfER President Steve Chessin brings us up to date on the newsletter, CfER-sponsored bills and developments in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Read his report here.

Big Win in New Mexico

FairVote's Rob Richie reports on the victory in Santa Fe, New Mexico on March 4 in this article.

Annual General Meeting and Board Election

CfER's Local Option Bill Advances to the Governor

For the first time ever, a CfER sponsored bill passed both houses and went to the Governor's desk. AB 1294 would have allowed all cities in California to use Instant Runoff Voting and Choice Voting for their local elections.

Jim Lindsay tells us what happened here.

Meanwhile, Back at CfER's Military Overseas Voting Bill

In the fall of 2006 we got the Assembly Veterans Committee to write a voting bill. It would give overseas military and civilians a better chance of having their election runoff votes count. After a major detour in the Senate Appropriations Committee, it is back on track.

Pete Martineau follows this story here.

IRV Avalanche Hits LA City Hall

On March 4, IRV gained an avalanche of support. Elected officials, community leaders, and civic activists packed the hall for the Los Angeles City Council's Rules and Government Committee hearing on Instant Runoff Voting (IRV).  Here is Gautam Dutta's eyewitness report, along with a call to action.

Membership Form

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About CfER ...

Californians for Electoral Reform (CfER) is a statewide citizens' group promoting election re­forms that ensure that our government fairly represents the voters. We are a nonpartisan, non­profit organization with members from across the political spectrum. Since our founding in May of 1993, our numbers have grown from about two dozen to hundreds of members participating in local chapters across California.

OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT

The method by which we vote has dramatic consequences, and nearly one third of the state's electorate consistently goes without a representative that speaks for them in Sacramento. The choice of electoral system can determine whether there will be "spoilers" or vote-splitting effects, majority sweeps of representation on city councils, or pervasive negative campaign­ing. The choice of electoral system determines whether minority perspectives or racial and ethnic minority groups receive fair representation or get shut out of the process entirely.

CfER IS THE LEADING ADVOCACY GROUP FOR THESE REFORMS IN CALIFORNIA

CfER works for legislation that would allow cities and counties to adopt voting methods that allow people to rank their preferences when they vote.  CfER also works with activists in its local chapters to enact fair election methods in cities and counties across the state.