Activism strategies for proportional representation

For US, Canada, and the UK

Proportional representation to kill the gerrymander

(For more on PLACE voting, the “perfect” proportional representation method, see this article).

The path to legislative voting method reform — that is, proportional representation—of course would look different in different countries. But there’s one thing in common: in order to prosper, reform has to have grassroots support from people across the political spectrum, but also be in the interest of at least one significant national party. That’s how New Zealand moved to MMP in the 90’s, and it’s how it should work today.

That means a bit of a balancing act. PR, at its heart, is a nonpartisan idea: stop wasting votes. Voters across the spectrum could benefit: whether you’re an independent frustrated with your lack of meaningful choices, a major-party supporter who happens to live in a “safe district” for the other major party, a minor-party supporter tired of being frozen out and labeled a “spoiler”, or even one of the minority whose honest vote isn’t wasted but still upset about the increasing polarization and gridlock that FPTP creates, PLACE or other PR methods have something to offer you. But it’s also true that in practice, there is usually one major party that typically benefits from FPTP, and another that suffers. Making a nonpartisan appeal to voters, combined with a partisan appeal to a specific party, can be tough.

But, as the New Zealand example shows, it can be done. All three of the major FPTP countries I’m discussing — US, Canada, and UK — have made major reforms to their democracies in the past. This is doable.

A few minor country-specific notes: