U.S. electoral system reform agenda

[Dayne Goodwin <dayneg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Art McGee <amcgee@xxxxxxx>
Reply-To: f.shor@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [BRC-NEWS] One Person, One Vote

http://www.commondreams.org/views/110900-102.htm

One Person, One Vote - Seize the Time!

By Fran Shor <f.shor@xxxxxxxxx>

Those of us (Naderites, Greens, and others) who have raised
questions during this presidential campaign about the problems
of democracy in the United States face a historic opportunity.
Not since the nineteenth century has the country faced such
a political crisis. Instead of engaging in recriminations
about the "spoiler" role of Nader or lamenting the situation
where the popular vote can be trumped by the electoral vote,
we should seize the time to underscore the need for
substantive changes in the political components of
our democracy.

Clearly, at the top of the list is abolishing the
anachronistic and undemocratic electoral system. As
a holdover from a period which disdained an inclusive
representative democracy, the electoral college must be
eliminated. To realize the goal of one person, one vote,
we need to insist by demonstrations and other means that the
present electors recognize the validity of the popular vote.
Certainly, the AFL-CIO, Jesse Jackson, NARAL, and all those
other organizations and individuals who browbeat Nader
supporters into voting for Gore should turn their energy
into mobilizing their constituencies into rallying around
the demand of "one person, one vote." Instead of waiting
around for recounts and technical challenges, progressives
should mobilize and swarm Congress with demands to end this
archaic electoral system.

Other electoral reforms seem to cry out for recognition as
a consequence of this crisis. First of all, establishing an
instant runoff voting system similar to that in operation in
Ireland and Australia would allow voters to rank candidates
in order of preference and guarantee that those voting for a
third party candidate could express their second choice. In
a close election, such as the presidential vote in Florida,
Nader's voters may very well have provided the margin of
victory to Gore through such instant runoff voting. Moreover,
third party supporters would be better able to vote both their
conscience and their strategic concerns in close elections.
Even more equitable is to move beyond a "winner-take-all"
political system to one where proportional representation
would give third parties, even those with as little as 5%,
a voice in the government. Most democracies around the world
have such a proportional system and manage to engage a much
greater percentage of their citizens in elections.

Of course another key factor in excluding people from
elections is the inconvenience built into the voting
procedures in most states. Instead of the 6 states which now
have same day voter registration, this should be extended to
all 50 states. Moreover, all states should either move to a
mail ballot, as Oregon has done (with one of the highest
voter turnouts as a consequence) or establish a two day
holiday for voting as Italy has. In Michigan the Republican
Governor was incensed that the UAW had negotiated a day off
on election day, especially since it undoubtedly led to the
upset of the incumbent Republican Senator from Michigan.
With a voter turnout still hovering around 50% and making
the US 139 out of 163 democracies on turnout, we need to
look for more inclusion rather than more restrictions.

Another key to reversing the restrictive political system is
to enfranchise ex-prisoners and immigrants. Given the racist
unfairness built into the criminal justice system and the
drug war, it is no suprise that African-American men are
losing their citizenship rights in massive numbers. It is
estimated that close to 30% of African-American males were
ineligible to vote in Florida because of alleged criminal
convictions. Throughout the South in particular, such
disenfranchisement mirrors the segregationist policies of
the past and undergirds the Republican control of the South.

Another exclusionary structure especially evident in this
election cycle was the two-party dominated Commission on
Presidential Debates. Set-up to exclude third party
candidates, Ralph Nader was even denied access to the site
of the debates in Boston and St. Louis. In turn, the media
conglomerates reinforced this exclusion through their own
corporate financial barriers. We need real debates with
multiple voices and parties aired as public service.

Of course, the most corrupting and corrosive influence on
the political system has been corporate financing. Dominating
both parties, corporate money and lobbyists have help enact
legislation helping big business and harming the average
American. Apparently close to 3 billion dollars was spent
on this election cycle. Not only does this undermine fair
and inclusive campaign competition, it further erodes the
democratic ethos of society. Real public financing of
campaigns is one obvious response.

On the other hand, in order to revive that democratic ethos
and build a deep democracy into American life, we cannot wait
for token reforms to be handed down by a remote political
elite. We must take this moment to turn a political crisis
into an opportunity to promote a democratic agenda. Whether
through teach-ins on campus or mobilization in the streets,
democracy can only be fashioned for the interests of the
people if the people take an interest in democracy. And now
is the time when that interest is on our side. If all those
who believe in democracy fail to take advantage of this
moment, we will only have ourselves to blame for the
continuing erosion of our democratic life.

Fran Shor teaches at Wayne State University.

Copyright (c) 2000 Common Dreams. All Rights Reserved.
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