Beyond the Echo Chamber: A Roundup of Nonpartisan Election News -- November 10, 2015

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Author: 420 Times
Published: 10 Nov, 2015
Updated: 18 Oct, 2022
1 min read

The latest headlines on nonpartisan voting rights from across the nation. Enjoy.

What Impact Could An Independent Run By Jim Webb Have on 2016?

Source:  Austin Plier, FairVote

My Take: An interesting piece exploring angles not often explored, including a role in the electoral vote outcome of a number of swing states--especially his native Virginia.

 

Unheard Voices: Why Aren’t More Californians Voting?

Source:  Caitlin Maple, PublicCEO

My Take:  While the article touches on the fact that large segments of the population are underrepresented at the polls and there is a seemingly endless discussion about this, one does wonder what is really being done to deal with it.

 

Top-Two Primaries, Third Parties, and the Rights of Individual Voters

Source: Chad Peace, San Diego City Beat

My Take: A good discussion of the institutional barriers placed on voter rights by the political parties--without an argument for less party involvement.

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Nonpartisan Primaries Put Power In The Hands Of The People

Source:  Tiani X.Coleman, The Monitor (Concord, NH)

My Take:  With 43% of New Hampshire voters having no party affiliation, the author, tired of the partisan fighting, is calling out for her state to join a growing movement.

 

What If The Parties Didn’t Run Primaries?

Source:  Russell Berman, The Atlantic

My Take:  An extensive look not only at Nebraska, which has a top-two primary for state legislative races, but the nationwide movement toward such reform, including in Congress.

 

How About A Debate Between Ds And Rs on Parties’ Beliefs?

Source: Bob Mercer, Black Hills (SD) Pioneer

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My Take:  It’s a look at voter frustration and how voters really no longer know what the parties actually stand for. From there, the article moves to remedies currently under discussion, including a nonpartisan primary. SOMETHING to make voters pay attention.

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