Voting for a member of Congress is a fundamental civic duty for most Americans. Every two years, citizens choose their preferred candidate, typically the same one they previously supported, and the candidate with the most votes represents them and their neighbors in the House of Representatives. Usually, the winning candidate belongs to either the Republican or Democratic party, and the party with the majority of seats forms the government. This has been the standard process for congressional elections for the past century.
However, a growing number of political reform advocates argue that this system has outlived its effectiveness and could be detrimental to American democracy if unchanged. They believe that the winner-take-all system is driving U.S. politics towards dangerous levels of polarization, and without significant change, the damage could be irreversible. Lee Drutman, a political scientist and senior fellow at the New America Foundation, warns that our democracy is on a troubling trajectory, and the problems we currently face will only intensify over time.
Drutman is a co-founder of Fix Our House, a group that proposes a new structure for the lower chamber of Congress. They envision electing multiple representatives per district, instead of just one. This would result in fewer but larger districts, and the seats would be distributed proportionally based on the percentage of votes each party receives. This system, known as proportional representation, would provide greater opportunities for niche parties to win seats. Advocates believe that implementing this system could transform America into a multiparty democracy.
While proponents of proportional representation acknowledge that it may be a long shot in the immediate future, they argue that it could address the issues of polarization and gerrymandering in American politics. Multimember districts have a complex history in the U.S., with some states using them in the past but ultimately abandoning them due to concerns of voter disenfranchisement. However, supporters believe that with the right legal framework, multimember districts could expand representation for marginalized groups, such as Black Americans.
Ideally, proportional representation would break the two-party stranglehold on American politics, fostering coalitional and cross-partisan governance. It would also significantly reduce the impact of partisan gerrymandering. Grant Tudor, a policy advocate at Protect Democracy, explains that in a multiparty system, political opponents are not permanent enemies, and political violence and extremism are lessened.
To illustrate the potential impact of proportional representation, let’s take the example of Wisconsin. Currently, Republicans reliably win six out of eight gerrymandered districts. However, under proportional representation, Wisconsin may have only two districts with five and three members, making gerrymandering much harder and resulting in more competitive elections that better reflect the state’s diverse population.
Larger states like California and New York could elect representatives from parties other than the Republicans and Democrats. In a multiparty democracy, a broader range of political ideologies would be represented in Congress. Advocates point to the success of other countries, such as Australia, Israel, and various European countries, where proportional representation has been implemented.
In recent years, voters across the country have shown a willingness to experiment with new election methods, such as nonpartisan primaries and ranked-choice voting. These changes have been implemented in states like California, Washington, Maine, and cities like New York City and San Francisco. Alaska and Nevada have also taken steps towards adopting similar systems. However, proponents of proportional representation argue that these reforms alone are not enough to save American democracy. They believe that more drastic changes are necessary.
While there is a polite competition of ideas among election reformers, proportional representation and final-four voting are considered as the most promising alternatives to the current system. Final-four voting, recently adopted in Alaska and potentially in Nevada, combines nonpartisan primaries with ranked-choice voting. It aims to increase voter participation and reduce polarization.
Ultimately, the goal of election reformers is to create a more representative government that addresses the issues of gerrymandering, non-competitive elections, and polarization. While the adoption of proportional representation may be challenging, advocates believe that it could be the key to revitalizing American democracy and ensuring that a broader range of voices are heard.
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