Making Democracy Work is a program that engages Leagues nationwide in advancing the core democracy issues of: Election Reform, Campaign Finance Reform and Stronger Ethics in Government. 

The Election Reform team uses League positions to advocate and take action, working together in a comprehensive approach toward the one common goal of making democracy work for all!

The Team meets every fourth Tuesday of the month. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact us.

How do we vote now?

Plurality voting is the way we currently vote.  It is when a voter can vote for only one candidate in a race. Plurality voting is also known as ‘first past the post’ or ‘winner-take-all’ voting.

In single-winner elections with 3 or more candidates, problems can arise.  Because voters can show their support for one candidate only, we cannot clearly express our preferences; we might have to vote for a candidate that is not our favorite and two similar candidates may split the vote, resulting in the election of a third, less desirable candidate.

What is RCV?

Ranked Choice Voting is a simple upgrade to the way we currently vote. Right now, no matter how many candidates are on the ballot, we can choose only one candidate. With Ranked Choice Voting, we will rank the candidates – first choice, second choice, third choice – in the order of your preference.

RCV solves a real problem.

Have you ever wanted to vote for a third party candidate but you were worried you’d be wasting your vote? With Ranked Choice Voting, we are empowered to vote for exactly who we want, and then rank back-up options in the case your first choice candidate doesn’t have enough support to win.

RCV incentivizes more candidates to run.

Third party candidates are often told “Don’t run, don’t participate, wait your turn” because there is a fear of them splitting the vote with a leading candidate on a similar platform. With Ranked Choice Voting we can incentivize more candidates to get involved, elevating civil discourse in politics and give voters more choice on the ballot.
 
RCV is a powerful election reform that will defend democracy by requiring a majority to win the race.
 
The League of Women Voters of Larimer County (LWVLC) supports an alternative to plurality voting that would accomplish the following objectives:

     - Every person’s vote should count.
     - A winner should have majority support.
     - Maximize voter participation.
     - Is open to a variety of candidates and ideas.
     - Encourages positive, issue-based campaigning.

NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE

ALTERNATIVE VOTING METHODS

Advocate for Alternative Voting Methods (AVM) to our current system of plurality voting and to require ranked voting that ensures the winner has majority support. Adopting alternative voting methods such as Ranked Choice Voting will invigorate civic participation, improve fairness of representation, and lead to more civil campaigns.

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County supports Instant Runoff Voting.  LWVLC Program Priorities

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Advocate for Proportional Representation that ensures parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.

Ask your US Representative about HR4000. It is similar to the 2018 Fair Representation Act and will establish ranked choice voting in elections for Representatives in Congress; require each state with more than one representative to establish multi-member congressional districts; and require states to conduct congressional redistricting through independent commissions.   Read HR-4000

LWVUS supports FOR THE PEOPLE ACT

Many elements of the HR1 legislation align with the League’s long held positions and advocacy to ensure that our elections are free, fair, and accessible to all eligible Americans. HR1 legislation passed in the House March 8th, 2019. Among many elements, the bill aims to:

Break down barriers that prevent Americans from registering to vote. The Act requires states to allow same day registration, establishes an opt-out system of automatic registration, and includes the establishment of an online voter registration for all eligible voters.

HR1 will restore the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and strengthen our elections by cutting back the obstructive laws that have kept eligible voters from exercising their right at the ballot box. Since the Supreme Court’s Shelby County decision rolled back key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, Americans have participated in elections where voters have faced a variety of obstacles, from reduced polling places to long lines, to strict voter identification requirements, to the removal of registered voters from the rolls.

HR1 will also empower small donors by creating a public financing system to match small contributions to presidential candidates. It will also close disclosure loopholes that allow outside groups to flood elections with millions of dollars of secret money.

Demand a Hearing for HR1 Now

LVWUS Media Release in Support of HR1

Read HR1