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VOTING and DEMOCRACY REVIEW the Newsletter of the Center for Voting and Democracy

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VOTING and DEMOCRACY REVIEW the Newsletter of the Center for Voting and Democracy VOTING AND DEMOCRACY REVIEW The Newsletter of The Center for Voting and Democracy Volume 2, Number 1 "Making Your Vote Count" January 1994 North Carolina Takes Close Look at PR Study commission formed, CV&D member set to testify in Shaw In the wake of last year's Supreme The Commission will investigate My role in the case led to a Page 1 Court ruling on North Carolina's whether to add limited voting (already article (with accompanying map) by Jim redistricting plan, current winner-take- used to elect several North Carolina local Morrill, political editor of the Charlotte all methods of enforcing Voting Rights governments), cumulative voting and Observer, the state's largest newspaper. Act provisions to allow racial and ethnic preference voting to the list of election My commentary on the plan has run in minorities to elect candidates of choice options for local governments. Currently, newspapers across the state, drawing are under attack across the nation. No localities must obtain General Assembly serious attention. State senator Leslie state has gone further to study approval to adopt anything other than Winner told the Observer: "I wouldn't alternatives to single-member district winner-take-all elections. dismiss anything out of hand....It is plans than North Carolina -- in no small worth our thinking through as a society part due to the efforts of Lee Mortimer, PR Plan Gains Attention in Shaw Case how we want to accomplish getting who provides the following report. The study commission's creation different voices heard in a system that follows on the heels of last summer's doesn't make people feel alienated." The Election Laws Review Supreme Court ruling to allow a legal Commission, approved by the 1993 challenge to North Carolina's 12th A possible barrier to the PR plan is a North Carolina General Assembly, congressional district, which has a 1967 congressional statute that requires begins its work on January 27. It will be majority of African-Americans. The case states to use single-member districts for the first of monthly meetings through the -- once Shaw v. Reno, now Shaw v. Hunt House elections. However, after meeting end of 1994. The Commission then will -- is scheduled to go to court by April. with Everett in November, CV&D Board make recommendations for election-law member and noted voting rights attorney changes to the 1995 General Assembly. The plaintiffs' attorney, Duke Ed Still met with staff of a congressional University law professor Robinson subcommittee that is holding hearings on The Commission will study three Everett, has asked me to testify about amendments to the Voting Rights Act. areas: alternate election systems, how cumulative voting and preference Still discussed amending the Act to give campaign finance reform and voter voting could provide fair minority states the option to use PR systems. registration. Commissions originally had representation in North Carolina's been proposed for each topic separately, congressional elections -- an idea raised Interest in this amendment should but the legislature decided to consolidate by former Justice Department nominee only increase following December's them under a single commission. This Lani Guinier at the NAACP's 1993 federal court ruling that rejected consolidation will permit an integrated convention. I introduced Everett to Louisiana's congressional plan based on analysis of the different areas. Guinier when he attended her well- alleged "racial gerrymandering" in one received speech at Duke in December. district. The Louisiana case may weigh The Commission has 21 members, heavily when Shaw v. Hunt is heard in including six state senators and nine I have submitted a plan that creates federal court here this spring. state representatives. The co-chairs are three multi-member districts that Sen. Clark Plexico and Rep. Paul correspond to the state's geographic Luebke. Luebke, a fellow Durham regions. In November, I gave a Inside This Issue: resident, has been interested in deposition during which I was proportional representation (PR) since I questioned by a state deputy Attorney began talking to him about PR for General and by attorneys for the NAACP Page 2...... CV&D 1993 Report Durham's school board two years ago. He Legal Defense and Education Fund, Page 3...... Voting System News introduced last year's resolution to study which has intervened in defense of the Page 4...... Computerizing PV alternate voting systems. current district plan. Page 4...... The Index Voting and Democracy Review January 1994 Page 1 "Making your vote count" Note from the Director Less than two years old, CV&D • Explaining Lani Guinier's ideas: The Center for Voting and enters the new year with a string of The media grossly distorted former Democracy (CV&D) is a tax - exempt important accomplishments and an Justice Department nominee Guinier's educational organization that serves as a exciting array of projects for 1994. support of cumulative voting. CV&D national clearinghouse on proportional Here are some examples: issued press releases that resulted in representation (PR) and other alternatives to the plurality voting • Producing Voting and Democracy radio appearances and more accurate systems used in most United States Report: 1993: In December, we held a coverage. Many CV&D members wrote elections. CV&D was founded in 1992. press conference with National Advisory newspaper columns detailing her ideas. Board Chair John Anderson, media • Collecting and distributing Voting and Democracy Review is counselors from the German and South materials on voting systems: CV&D published bi - monthly. CV&D members African embassies and a leading Russian has an up-to-date collection of written receive the Review for free; analyst to release preliminary copies of and visual material on PR. We monitor subscriptions are $15. All rights Review our first annual survey of 1993's electoral local, national and international develop- reserved. No part of the may be reproduced or transmitted by any means reforms and elections. With ments and distribute this information to without prior written permission from contributions from 20 authors, the report media, public interest groups, educators CV&D: 6905 Fifth St. NW, Suite 200, fills an important vacuum in our public and international reformers. Washington, DC 20012 (202) 882 - 7378. debate. (Copies of the final report will be CV&D has only begun the process of available in February for $9.) sharing a wealth of information with the CV&D Board of Directors • Informing communities: The American people. With members' Matthew Cossolotto (President) Author, Almanac of European Politics Cincinnati city council in 1993 put continued help, we can take great strides Cynthia Terrell (Vice-President) cumulative voting on the ballot after toward increasing understanding of a Campaign consultant (DC) investigating voting systems with our subject of vital importance to the future Howard Fain (Secretary) assistance. CV&D has generated of our democracy and to emerging Staff representative, AFSCME (MA) informed debate on proportional democracies around the world. David Lampe: (Treasurer) representation (PR) in communities Rob Richie Editor, National Civic Review (CO) ranging from Nassau County (NY) to Carolyn Campbell Ù Ù Ù Ù Ù Ù Ù Ù City council aide/Green Party leader (AZ) Seattle (WA) and Durham (NC). We edit Member Profile: Steven Hill Dolores Huerta a column for the National Civic Review. CV&D is starting to spawn a number Vice-president, United Farm Workers (CA) • Stimulating public debate and of independent state affiliates. Peter Nickitas Attorney, Duluth (MN) understanding: CV&D members have Washington State CPR! provides the Roxanne Qualls written articles on PR in publications model for these groups, primarily due to Mayor of Cincinnati (OH) ranging from the New Yorker to the New the energetic, innovative and even- York Times. Three hours of our 1993 Wilma Rule handed leadership of Steven Hill. Adjunct professor, U. Nevada-Reno (CA) conference were televised on C-SPAN. Two years ago, Steven decided to James Skillen CV&D also has taught about voting forgo entering a prominent law school to Ex. director, Center for Public Justice (MD) systems to groups of high school students avoid high debts. Living on a small Marian Spencer Former Cincinnati vice - mayor (OH) visiting Washington, D.C, and is stipend from organizing farm workers, Edward Still planning workshops to assist members' Steven put principle before self-interest. Voting Rights Act attorney (AL) efforts around the nation. And I have In its brief history, Washington CPR! been a panelist at conferences organized has sparked three pieces of PR-related CV&D Advisory Board by such organizations as the NAACP state legislation, run candidates for John Anderson (National Chair) Legal Defense Fund and Americans for Seattle and Tacoma city council, had Former Member of Congress Democratic Action. monthly public meetings, spoken to Douglas Amy Kathleen Barber • Working with electoral reformers countless civic and public interest Theodore Berry John Brittain Martha Burk Eugene Eidenberg overseas: CV&D staff members last year groups, printed many commentaries and were invited to New Zealand for a James Elwood Jack Gargan letters in newspapers and appeared on Hendrik Hertzberg Mel King speaking tour during the successful several radio shows. It is exploring a Arthur Kinoy Arend Lijphart referendum campaign to adopt PR, while Seattle initiative, to be launched with a Michael Lind Manning Marable Michael Shuman Eleanor Smeal CV&D President Matthew Cossolotto March conference of key constituencies. met with leading British reformers and Maureen Smith Sam Smith Steven also has been a big help to Bobbie Sterne Velma Veloria presented our 1992 Champion of CV&D; he currently is assisting our Tyrone Yates Joseph Zimmerman Democracy award to Paddy Ashdown, factsheet project. The legal profession's CV&D National Director party leader of the Liberal Democrats. loss has been the PR movement's gain.
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