Fairvote Action Fund

TO ADVOCATE FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS THAT EXPAND DEMOCRACY AND PROMOTE GREATER VOTER CHOICE IN ELECTIONS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

FAIRVOTE ACTION CAMPAIGNS FOR BETTER ELECTIONS FOR ALL. WE WIN VOTING REFORMS THAT MAKE DEMOCRACY BETTER, MORE FUNCTIONAL, AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ALL AMERICANS. WE DEVOTE OUR RESOURCES AND STAFF TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR ELECTION REFORMS THAT WILL LEAD TO SUSTAINED CHANGE, PRIMARILY THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS. TODAY WE FOCUS ON WORKING WITH ALLIES IN SUPPORT OF TWO PARTICULAR CHANGES: TO ESTABLISH RANKED CHOICE VOTING (RCV) AS THE NORMAL WAY TO VOTE IN ALL ELECTIONS AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, AND TO REPLACE WINNER-TAKE-ALL ELECTIONS FOR CONGRESS WITH THE PROPORTIONAL FORM OF RCV. IN 2021, WE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR SPENDING IN SUPPORT OF THESE GOALS. FOR THE FIRST TIME, FAIRVOTE ACTION COMPENSATED SALARIED STAFFERS FOR THEIR TIME TO ADVANCE OUR GOALS. WE ALSO HAD CONSULTANTS WORKING TO ADVANCE OUR GOALS AND GRANTS TO SUPPORT ADVOCACY FOR RCV. WE WILL PROVIDE AN ILLUSTRATIVE SUMMARY IN MAJOR AREAS OF OUR 2021 WORK, FOLLOWED BY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES:RCV IN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES: IN 2018, FAIRVOTE ACTION STARTED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE USE OF RCV BALLOTS IN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES, GIVEN A CALCULATION THAT: (1) BOTH PARTIES BENEFIT FROM THIS CHANGE; (2) IT IS A PARTICULARLY SENSIBLE COMPLEMENT TO INCREASED USE OF EARLY VOTING; AND (3) PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES DRAW A GREAT DEAL OF VOTER INTEREST. WORK IN THIS AREA IN 2021 INCLUDED:SECURING STATE BASE: DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRS IN THE STATES THAT USED RCV IN 2020 (ALASKA, HAWAII, KANSAS, AND WYOMING) OR HAVE LAWS TO USE RCV IN 2024 (MAINE) ALL SIGNED A LETTER TO THE RULES AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE (RBC) OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (DNC) IN 2021 EXPRESSING THEIR INTENT TO USE RCV BALLOTS IN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES IN 2024. THEY ENCOURAGED THE RBC TO ADOPT THE NEEDED LONG-TERM RULE CHANGES. WE HAVE KEPT REGULAR AND POSITIVE COMMUNICATION WITH ALL FIVE STATES IN 2021-2022.MAINE LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS: WE WORKED WITH DEMOCRACY MAINE AND ITS LEGISLATIVE ALLIES TO INCLUDE THREE IMPORTANT RCV PROVISIONS INTO A BILL ON ELECTIONS. THE NEW LAW: (1) CORRECTED THE LANGUAGE ON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES TO ALLOW RCV TO BE USED IN WAYS CONSISTENT WITH DNC RULES; (2) CLARIFIED HOW TO REPORT RCV RESULTS IN GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR PRESIDENT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER POSSIBLE REFORMS LIKE THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE INTERSTATE COMPACT; AND (3) HAD THE LEGISLATURE AFFIRM THE USE OF RCV FOR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, WHICH HEADS OFF POTENTIAL NEGATION OF MAINES USE OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS EVEN IF AS FEARED - THE SUPREME COURT IN 2023 RULES THAT CITIZEN INITIATIVES TO CHANGE FEDERAL ELECTION LAW ARE ILLEGAL.TESTING STATE ADVOCACY: USE OF RCV FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES IS EMINENTLY SENSIBLE, BUT PRESENTS COMPLEXITY GIVEN THE FACT THAT PARTIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE THE SAME PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS DIFFERENTLY FOR DELEGATE ALLOCATION BASED ON THEIR OWN RULES. OUR LEGAL TEAM CONSULTED WITH A RANGE OF PARTY OFFICIALS, LAWMAKERS, AND REFORM PARTNERS TO SETTLE ON POLICY AND STATUTORY LANGUAGE THAT WE THINK BEST MEETS OUR ADVOCACY AND IMPACT OBJECTIVES IN THIS AREA. WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR STAFF AND CONTRACTORS, WE JOINED NATIONAL AND STATE REFORM ALLIES TO PREPARE FOR TESTS IN WINNING RCV FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES IN SEVERAL STATES, MOST NOTABLY IN WELL-BACKED EFFORTS IN COLORADO, VERMONT, AND WASHINGTON. WHILE THESE EFFORTS CONFIRMED THAT MANY LAWMAKERS ARE MORE READY TO ADVANCE THIS FORM OF RCV THAN OTHER FORMS OF RCV AT THIS TIME, THEY ALSO CLARIFIED NEEDS WE MUST MEET. CREATING FOUNDATION FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY ENGAGEMENT: REPUBLICANS HAVE LESS STRINGENT NATIONAL MANDATES ON DELEGATE SELECTION IN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS. WORKING WITH STAFF AND CONTRACTORS, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON BUILDING A BASE OF SUPPORT IN STATES WHERE WE HAVE ALLIES AND POSITIVE NARRATIVES TO UPLIFT. AS EXAMPLES, VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS USE OF RCV HAS DRAWN NATIONAL ATTENTION AS PART OF THE REASON GLENN YOUNGKIN EMERGED FROM THE PRIMARY WELL-POSITIONED TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHILE UTAH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND CITIES HAVE PASSED LAWS AND ORDINANCES RESULTING IN 23 CITIES SIGNING UP TO USE RCV IN THEIR CITY ELECTIONS IN 2021.BUILDING A PRESENCE ON CAPITOL HILL: FAIRVOTE AND FAIRVOTE ACTION HAVE A HISTORY OF STRONG INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BUT NOT SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PASSING LEGISLATION. IN 2021, WE HIRED AN EXPERIENCED NEW GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, AND BUILT OUT OUR HILL OPERATION WITH A PART-TIME LOBBYIST AND SENIOR POLICY COUNSEL. PROGRESS INCLUDED:DEVELOPING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH MORE THAN 30 CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES AND THE FOLLOWING BILLS: THE VOTER CHOICE ACT (HR5500 / S2939) WOULD PROVIDE FEDERAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE COST OF LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TRANSITIONING TO RCV AND/OR PROPORTIONAL RCV. DUE TO FAIRVOTE ACTIONS INITIATIVE, IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY OFFERED AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY ACT, HR5314, WHERE IT PASSED THE HOUSE IN DECEMBER 2021. THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT (S2747) INCLUDES THE ADMINISTRATION OF RCV AS AN ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY FOR FUNDING WITHIN ITS STATE DEMOCRACY PROMOTION PROGRAM. THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN JANUARY 2022 BEFORE FAILING TO OVERCOME A FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE. THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT (HR1 / S1) INCLUDES TWO PRO-RCV PROVISIONS: ONE THAT REQUIRES ALL NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT PURCHASED WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH RCV ELECTIONS AND ONE TO CREATE A GAO STUDY ABOUT RCV. HR1 PASSED THE HOUSE IN 2021. THE FAIR REPRESENTATION ACT (HR3863) WOULD IMPLEMENT PROPORTIONAL RCV FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS. THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN 2021 WITH EIGHT SPONSORS AND COSPONSORS.STATE LEGISLATIVE WINS: IN 2021, AT LEAST 30 STATES CONSIDERED RCV LEGISLATION, WITH FOUR STATES PASSING LAWS: COLORADO (STANDARDS AND FUNDING FOR LOCALITIES TO IMPLEMENT RCV), GEORGIA (ADOPTION OF A LONG-TIME FAIRVOTE-CATALYZED PROPOSAL TO HAVE OVERSEAS VOTERS PRESERVE THEIR VOTING POWER BY CASTING RCV BALLOTS IN RUNOFF ELECTIONS), MAINE (AS DISCUSSED ABOVE) AND UTAH (FACILITATING THE CITY PILOT PROGRAM FOR RCV).SUPPORT FOR CITY WINS: FAIRVOTE ACTION FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON SUSTAINABLE LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIES, BUT SUCH STRATEGIES MAY LEAD TO LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES. IN 2021, FIVE OF THE SIX LOCAL RCV BALLOT MEASURES WERE THE PRODUCT OF A CITY COUNCIL OR CHARTER COMMISSION BEING PERSUADED TO REFER RCV TO THE BALLOT. ALL WON, AND INDEED THE LAST 13 LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES IN 2019-2021 HAVE WON BY AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 30 PERCENTAGE POINTS. MOST OF FAIRVOTE ACTIONS IMPACT WAS THROUGH MAKING CONNECTIONS AND GENERAL MOVEMENT SUPPORT; WE ALSO MADE A SUBSTANTIAL GRANT TO VPIRG FOR ITS WORK ON BEHALF OF RCV IN A LOPSIDED WIN FOR RCV IN CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN VERMONTS LARGEST CITY OF BURLINGTON AND ITS STATE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY.FAIRVOTE ACTION ALSO INVESTED IN EARLY WORK EXPLORING LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY FOR RCV IN WASHINGTON, DC. INCLUDING CONTRACTING WITH A LOBBYIST TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND A GRANT TO MORE VOICE DC. IN 2022, A BILL TO ESTABLISH RCV FOR PRIMARIES WAS INTRODUCED WITH THE SUPPORT OF A CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY.MEDIA COVERAGE ON RCV: FAIRVOTES MEDIA AUDIT OF NATIONAL COVERAGE OF RCV IN 2021 FOUND THAT FAIRVOTE ACTION LEADERS WERE BY FAR THE MOST CITED AUTHORITY ON RCV AND THAT RCV RECEIVED SUBSTANTIALLY MORE POSITIVE COVERAGE THAN NEGATIVE COVERAGE. FAIRVOTE ACTION CEO ROB RICHIE WROTE A FULL-LENGTH OPED ON RCV IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND WAS FEATURED IN A MIX OF PRINT, RADIO, PODCAST AND TV ACROSS THE YEAR.MOVEMENT SUPPORT: FAIRVOTE ACTION STAFF SUPPORTED STATE AND LOCAL GROUPS IN SEVERAL WAYS, SUCH AS:REFORM GROUPS IN STATES AND CITIES: OUR COMMUNICATIONS, MOVEMENT SUPPORT RESOURCES, AND SERVICE-ORIENTED APPROACH CONTRIBUTED TO PROGRESS IN STATES AND CITIES. EXAMPLES OF STATE AND LOCAL SUPPORT INCLUDE BIWEEKLY PHONE CALLS WITH REFORMERS FROM PRO-RCV GROUPS IN MOST STATES, A SLACK CHANNEL FOR PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING, AND AN INTERNAL RCV LIBRARY WEBSITE.LEGAL ROUNDTABLE: AFTER JOINING US IN JUNE 2021, SENIOR LEGAL FELLOW MIKE PARSONS SUCCESSFULLY SHEPHERDED THE LAUNCH OF A LEGAL ROUNDTABLE, WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM FIVE NATIONAL GROUPS AND PRO BONO ALLIES. AMONG THE TABLES SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS WAS COORDINATING ON DRIVING AND SUBMITTING TWO AMICUS BRIEFS IN DEFENSE OF RCV BEFORE THE ALASKA SUPREME COURT; THAT SUCCESS INCLUDED A FIRST-EVER STATE SUPREME COURT RULING UPHOLDING OUR TAKE THAT RCV IS CONSISTENT WITH MOST VOTES WINS PROVISIONS.ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING: FAIRVOTE ACTION HAD A MAJOR OVERHAUL IN 2021 AS WE CREATED THE CONDITIONS FOR SCALING. WE: (1) CREATED NEW BYLAWS AND REINCORPORATED IN WASHINGTON, DC; (2) ELECTED A NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WITH LEADERS INCLUDING TOM WATHEN, ANDREW YANG, AND LINDSAY DONNELLY; (3) HAD ATTORNEYS DEFINE HOW BEST FOR FAIRVOTE ACTION TO WORK WITH FAIRVOTE, INCLUDING BEING ABLE TO COMPENSATE FAIRVOTE STAFFERS FOR THEIR TIME; (4) PREPARED TO LAUNCH A NEW WEBSITE AT FAIRVOTEACTION.ORG; AND (5) SECURED TWO MULTI-YEAR GRANTS GUARANTEEING MORE THAN $1

ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON MEDIA AND MOVEMENT SUPPORTMOVEMENT SUPPORT TO NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON RCV BELOW ARE ILLUSTRATIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK IN THIS AREA: VIRGINIA FACILITATED THE LEGAL ROUNDTABLE PROPOSING LANGUAGE FOR VIRGINIA REGULATIONS INCORPORATED ALMOST ENTIRELY AND ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY. PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIAS USE OF RCV IN ITS STATEWIDE NOMINATION CONTEST IN MAY 2021UTAH: PROVIDED ONGOING STRATEGY AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ADVICE TO UTAH RCV, INCLUDING IN ITS OUTREACH TO CITY COUNCILS THAT RESULTED IN A RECORD 23 CITIES OPTING INTO THE RCV PILOT PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER 2021. FACILITATED SUCCESSFUL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESULTING ELECTIONS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, ACTING AS A LIAISON WITH ELECTION EQUIPMENT VENDORS, AND ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES FOR PUBLISHING RESULTS. PREPARED POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS AND PRESENTED IT TO STATE AND LOCAL POLICYMAKERS.TEXAS DID A REPORT WITH THIRD WAY ON THE COST OF RUNOFFS. WORKED WITH RCV FOR TEXAS ON OP-EDS AND MATERIALS. ASSISTED WITH PHONE2ACTION REQUESTS.MICHIGAN ENSURED THAT THE LEGAL ROUNDTABLE PROVIDED STATUTORY ADVICE TO RANK MI VOTE AS IT ADVANCED RCV IN ANN ARBOR AND KALAMAZOO.MAINE WORKED WITH DEMOCRACY MAINE AS IT ADVANCED RCV LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE. HELPED DRAFT THREE PRO-RCV PROVISIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATES ELECTIONS PACKAGE THAT BECAME LAW IN 2021. SUPPORTED IMPLEMENTATION AND MEDIA AROUND THE USE OF RCV IN PORTLAND AND ITS ADOPTION IN WESTBROOK IN 2021.WASHINGTON RAISED MORE THAN $200K FOR FAIRVOTE WASHINGTON TO ENGAGE IN A LOBBYING PUSH FOR PRO-RCV BILLS IN 2022. ACTED AS A REGULAR SOUNDING BOARD AS FV WASHINGTON ENGAGES IN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN TWO COUNTY BALLOT MEASURES IN 2022.VERMONT PROVIDED FUNDING AND ADVICE TO VPIRG AS IT LED THE SUCCESSFUL BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN BURLINGTON HELPED PREPARE BILLS FOR RCV IN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES.CALIFORNIA HELPED CAL RCV AS IT WAS LAUNCHED, INCLUDING HAVING FAIRVOTE CALIFORNIA COME UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CAL RCV LEADERS FOR 501-C-3 WORK IN THE STATE. PROVIDED EXPERT TESTIMONY TO CITY COUNCILS OR CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSIONS IN REDONDO BEACH, SAN JOSE, SAN BRUNO, AND SAN BERNARDINO. PARTICIPATED IN THE SAN DIEGO COALITION SEEKING TO BRING RCV TO THAT CITY.OREGON PROVIDED ADVICE AS NEEDED TO MORE EQUITABLE DEMOCRACY AND SIGHTLINE AS THEY WORKED WITH ADVOCATES IN PORTLAND WHO SUCCESSFULLY PERSUADED THE PORTLAND CHARTER COMMISSION TO PLACE RCV FOR ALL OFFICES AND PROPORTIONAL RCV FOR CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON THE NOVEMBER 2022 BALLOT.PROVIDED TRAINING ON RUNNING CAMPAIGNS UNDER RCV WITH DEMOCRATIC STATE PARTIES IN ALASKA AND NEW MEXICO. RCV NETWORK LEAD BI-WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH LOCAL RCV LEADERS: WE ORGANIZE THESE MEETINGS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES, INFORMATION, AND TIME FOR GROUPS TO LEARN AND CONNECT. COMPILED RCV RESOURCES IN THE RCV LIBRARY, A VIRTUAL DATABASE. WE SUPPORTED 48 ORGANIZATIONS FROM AT LEAST 29 STATES THROUGH THE LIBRARY AS DEMONSTRATED BY LOGINS INTO THE RCV RESOURCE LIBRARY.ADDITIONAL STATE-LEVEL ACHIEVEMENTS THAT FV HELPED SUPPORT THROUGH THE RCV NETWORK AND RESOURCE LIBRARY: NEW JERSEY - PASSED A LOCAL TRIGGER ORDINANCE IN HOBOKEN. WE HAVE BEEN NURTURING THE RCV EFFORT IN NEW JERSEY FOR OVER TWO YEARS, PROVIDING DATA, TALKING POINTS, GUEST SPEAKER APPEARANCES, AND STRATEGIC ADVICE. HAWAII - ESTABLISHED RCV FOR SPECIAL FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS OF VACANT COUNTY COUNCIL SEATS IN 2022. COMMON CAUSE HI LED THIS EFFORT, WORKING WITH THE LOBBYIST THAT FOR YEARS REPRESENTED FAIRVOTE ACTION. WE PROVIDED REGULAR TESTIMONY AND DATA, REPORTS, AND TALKING POINTS. MASSACHUSETTS - VOTER CHOICE MA TOOK THE LEAD AS RCV WAS APPROVED BY COUNCILS IN SEVERAL CITIES/TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS, SUCH AS NORTHAMPTON, ARLINGTON, AMHERST, AND CONCORD. WE ARE IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH VCMA.ILLUSTRATIVE MEDIA EXAMPLES TIED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO OUR WORK AND SUPPORT:RELATING TO ROLLOUT OF RCV IN NEW YORK CITY: OP-ED: A VERY SPECIFIC GUIDE TO RANKING CANDIDATES FOR N.Y.C. MAYOR, NY TIMES OP-ED: IN NYC, RANKED CHOICE VOTING SUCCEEDED, THE HILL QUOTED: RANKED-CHOICE VOTING WILL DECIDE NEW YORK CITY'S MAYORAL RACE. HERE'S HOW IT WORKS., CBS NEWS QUOTED: MAYORAL CANDIDATES CALL FOR REFORMS, RECOUNTS AFTER NYC BOARD OF ELECTIONS ADMITS 'ERRORS', ABC NEWS QUOTED: REVISED VOTE COUNT SHOWS ADAMS AHEAD IN NYC MAYORAL PRIMARY, ASSOCIATED PRESS QUOTED: THE MESS IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK TIMES QUOTED: THE TRAILER: REFORMERS HAD HIGH HOPES FOR NEW YORK'S ELECTION. THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DIDN'T HELP., WASHINGTON POST QUOTED: THE HIDDEN POLITICS OF NEW YORK CITYS NEW RCV SYSTEM, VOX QUOTED: NEW YORK'S FIRST FULL RANKED-CHOICE ELECTION CHANGED CAMPAIGNS IF NOT THE RESULTS, POLITICO QUOTED: THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SET TO BE MOST DIVERSE, PROGRESSIVE, AND HOLD FIRST-EVER FEMALE MAJORITY, THE GOTHAMIST QUOTED: RANKED-CHOICE VOTING: 3 TAKEAWAYS FROM NYCS BIG EXPERIMENT, ROLLING STONEVIRGINIA: OP-ED: DESPITE MCAULIFFES BIG WIN, DEMS NEED CHANGES TO FUTURE PRIMARIES TO ENSURE UNITY, ROANOKE TIMES OP-ED: RCC OFFERS A PROMISING PATH FOR VIRGINIA ELECTIONS, VIRGINIAN PILOT OP-ED: LESSONS FOR VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS LEARNED FROM RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS, BEARING DRIFT QUOTED: WHY REPUBLICANS, MODERATES SEE OPPORTUNITY IN RANKED CHOICE VOTING, NBC NEWSUTAH: OP-ED: RCV MAKES ELECTIONS FASTER AND CHEAPER, DESERET NEWS DID UTAHNS LIKE RANKED CHOICE VOTING? A NEW POLL HAS ANSWERS, DESERET NEWS RCV IN RETROSPECT AND THE FUTURE OF VOTING IN UTAH, DRAPER JOURNAL