In my last post, I promised to introduce a new plan for electing members of the Oregon House of Representatives - a plan which would add new dimensions of diversity to our legislature. The Two-Vote Plan - known in comparative government circles as parallel voting - isn't complicated in practice, but its workings will be unfamiliar to those who don't follow politics abroad. So please - if you're interested - be sure to read this when you have time to focus. [You might look up "parallel voting" first - or after reading this - for further clarification.]
I'll outline the plan in this post. Then - for those with questions - I'll be happy to post a further elaboration.
The basic idea of the Two-Vote Plan is that each voter would be entitled to two votes for Representative - one for an individual candidate running to represent a specific district, the other for a party slate running to represent a large region of the state.
Let's think of your two votes as Column A and Column B.
In Columm A, you would choose among individual candidates running for a district seat - exactly the way you do now. The one difference would be that only half of Oregon's 60 state Representatives would be elected from districts - so the 30 House districts would be identical to Oregon's 30 state Senate districts.
Column B is where the innovation comes in. Under the Two-Vote Plan, Oregon would be divided into three large regions - each containing one-third of the population. The regions would be drawn so as to include - as much as possible - parts of the state with common economic, environmental, and cultural features. For example, given our present population distribution, one region might include Portland and most of its suburbs. A second region might contain eastern and and parts of central Oregon, and a third region the coast and its hinterlands.
Each region would be entitled to ten Representatives, who would be elected by proportional representation. Rather than running as individuals, candidates would run as slates - either chosen by a party, or ianassembled by agreements among individual candidates. A slate could have up to ten candidates, but - as no slate will likely get 100% of the vote - it could have somewhat fewer than ten members.
When voting in Column B, you would use a form of ranked-choice voting - indicating up to three choices. Once all votes had been counted, any slate receiving fewer than 5% of the total vote in that region would be eliminated. Those whose first preference was eliminated would have their second and, if necessary, third-choice votes assigned to their preferred surviving slate.
That done, the ten regional seats would be allocated among the slates according to the percentage of votes received by each slate. A slate would be awarded one seat for each 10% of the total vote, with the final seat or two awarded by a remainder process.
The obvious question is: What are the benefits of adopting the Two-Vote Plan?
The main advantage is that it would guarantee that almost every Oregonian would be able to cast a vote for a candidate who actually ends up being elected.
At present, this simply does not happen.
When all Representatives are elected from single-member districts, most Oregonians find themselves voting in elections where the result is a foregone conclusion. A Democrat living in eastern Oregon has virtually no chance of voting for a Democrat who will go to Salem to represent him. A Republican living in Portland has very little chance of electing a Republican who will go to Salem to represent her.
This would be true, even without gerrymandering. With gerrymandering, the impacts of single-member districts are greatly exaggerated. In simple truth - whether we vote for the winner or the loser - very few of us have the opportunity of casting a vote that might actually make a difference.
Beyond this, a third of Oregonians do not identify with either major party - preferring a third party, or not consistently favoring any party at all. As things now stand, these voters usually end up voting for either a Democrat or a Republican, rather than "wasting their vote" on a candidate they prefer, but who has no chance of winning.
Under the Two-Vote system, nearly all Oregonians would have the opportunity - in Column B - to vote for a slate they actually support, and from which at least a few candidates would be elected.
For example, Republicans in the Portland region would probably be able to elect two or three members of their party to the House. Likewise, Democrats from Pendleton or Baker City or Lakeview would almost certainly cast votes electing at least two Representatives to the House.
As for those who dislike both major parties, there would finally be a serious chance if electing someone from a third party. A slate winning only 10% of the regional vote would be entitled to one seat. (Indeed, under the remainder process a slate winning 7% or so would have a decent chance of electing one Representative.)
The obvious result; A House of Representatives elected in this way would better represent the great variety of opinions and interests in our very diverse state.
But there would also be - in all probability - subtler impacts on the workings of the state House of Representatives.
While Democrats would almost certainly continue to have a majority in the House, the Democratic caucus would have fewer members from Portland, and some new additions from Oregon's coastal and rural areas. With more areas of the state represented in the Democratic caucus, Oregon's House might still be controlled by Democrats - but it would not be so easily dominated by Portland Democrats.
Likewise, the Republican caucus would have slightly fewer members from rural areas, and a small infusion of members from urban and suburban areas. This might contribute to less feeling of alienation among rural Representatives, who would now have metropolitan colleagues to partner with. Over time, this might result - not only in better legislation - but in fewer walk-outs by rural Republicans who do not feel heard.
Finally, for everyone who wishes there were more than two parties in Salem, the Two-Vote Plan would, over time, result in at least a handful of Representatives from third parties taking their seats in the House. Again, voices would be given to more diverse opinions and interests. And perhaps, over time, attractive third-party leaders might emerge capable of becoming viable candidates for higher office - the state Senate, Congress, even US Senator or Governor.
So - that's the outline of the plan. Your questions are welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment