Nine States and Washington, D.C. Share a Spot on the Political Stage

Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. These nine states and our nation’s capital currently share a place on the political stage.

Nineteen. That is the number of bills dealing with the implementation of ranked choice / instant runoff voting (RCV / IRV) currently under consideration in the nine state legislatures and Washington D.C. city council. Voters in Maine are not waiting for the legislation. A ballot initiative implementing RCV / IRV for all state and federal elected offices except President of the United States is on the ballot this November.

Legislators in nine states and the District of Columbia city council realize that just talking about the heightened level of political polarization does not solve the problem. They realize that to effectively govern, to do the job they were elected to do, requires people with opposing views to work together, respectfully listen to all opinions, and then develop solutions to the problems facing their constituents. To create the environment where that can take place takes action. They have not just talked. They have acted.

 In 2017 when the next regular session of the Nevada legislature convenes, state legislators can join the ranks of those who choose action. By enacting the Nevada Election Modernization and Reform Act of 2017 (NEMRA – 2017), lawmakers will address the issues of:

•         Political polarization
•          Low voter turnout
•          Strategic voting
•          Voter dissatisfaction  

NEMRA – 2017 will also contribute to solving another major problem facing Nevada’s elections. Our voting equipment and software is old and nearing obsolescence. Both will need to be replaced in the very near future. By eliminating at least $3 – 4 million from the cost of administering elections, NEMRA – 2017 will allow county governments and the legislature to redirect those funds towards this critical need.

Nine and nineteen. That is only a piece of election related legislation pending in the states. At present there are 567 bills dealing with issues such as absentee ballots, voter registration, internet voting, voting by mail, types of primary elections, and the creation of committees and task forces to look into voting-related topics pending in various states.

The issue of election reform has the attention of state legislators and voters. Nevada legislators do not have to wait until 2017 to act.  A bill draft request (BDR) can be filed now.