California bill will allow cities to change voting systems
This is huge. If passed, it will allow cities to choose alternate voting systems, like Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and Proportional Representation (PR) – something which will greatly aid third parties get their fair share. Hey, if you get 9% of the votes, you should get 9% of the seats.
From a Green email
“We wanted you to know about an important development in the California Legislature. As detailed below, a bill, AB 1039, has been introduced to allow cities (and hopefully counties) to change their elections to much more democratic systems, such as Instant Runoff Voting. This is a crucial beginning to our campaign to democratize elections statewide. But the bill needs help.
Please take a moment now to write a note of thanks to Assemblywoman Loni Hancock who introduced the bill. She is at Assemblymember.Hancock@assembly.ca.gov.
Then, please look up your local Assemblymember and write to them asking that they co-sponsor this bill. The more co-sponsors, the more momentum we have.
We are trying to build this first step into a larger campaign for voting reform.”
So, if you live in California, please let your Assemblymember know you favor this bill!