Open Competition
How We Can Change the Rules: Open Competition
Competition is opened up within the Democratic and Republican parties. And independents are able to compete on a level playing field.
End Extreme Partisan Gerrymandering
When partisan state legislators redraw the congressional maps every 10 years, the bias can be so extreme as to “effectively nullify democracy.” An independent study found that Republicans won as many as 22 additional U.S. House seats over what would have been expected in 2016 based on the average vote share in congressional districts across the country.
During the midterms, four more states join Ohio in passing anti-Gerrymandering legislation. Scorecard: 5 for 5
A simple change with a big impact
Vote for who you support, not who you oppose — without “vote splitting”
Fosters a grassroots focus, not a big money focus.
Requires 51%+ support
Discourages negative campaigning
Institute Ranked Voting at the State & Federal Levels
FairVote.org focuses on the adoption of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Since 2013, 15 cities have passed ranked choice voting. Research confirms that the process promotes majority support and reduces negative campaigning. Maine successfully used RCV at the statewide level in June 2018 and adopted it for future elections.
Adopt the “Top-Four” System
Research from results in California and Washington has found that the best outcomes come (A) Replacing party primaries with a blanket preliminary election and (B) advancing the “Top-Four” to a general election.
This approach preserves the successes from the “Top-Two” primary system while eliminating some negative side effects. The Top-Two system, when combined with non-partisan redistricting, has been credited for higher voter turnout, more competitive elections, more bipartisan legislation and high approval rating from state legislatures.
By advancing four candidates to the general election using a Ranked Choice Voting process, voters are offered an expanded choice of Republican, Democratic and Independent candidates.
Open Presidential Debates to a Third-Party Candidate
Changetherule.org is devoted entirely to changing the rule for presidential debate access. There is ample evidence that the current 15 percent polling hurdle is designed to exclude qualified third-party candidates. The effort by Changetherule.org was unsuccessful in opening up the 2016 presidential debates, but remains in litigation with the Federal Election Commission. If successful, it would create a viable national platform for an independent third-party candidate.
No Third-Party candidate has been able to meet the impossible debate requirements since televised debates began in 1960.
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