Table of Contents

1. Fair Representation for All 2. Solving the Redistricting Problem 3. Improving Election Campaigns 4. Toward a Multiparty System 5. Electing More Women 6.Fair Representation for Racial and Ethnic Minorities 7. Encouraging Voter Turnout 8. PR: A Different and Better Kind of Democracy 9.Objections to Proportional Representation 10.Versions of Electoral Reform for the United States 11.The Political Prospects for PR in the United States Appendix A. Seat Allocation Formulas in Proportional Representation Appendix B. Vote Counting and Ballot Transfer in the Single Transferable Vote Appendix C. The Forgotten History of Proportional Representation in the United States Selected Bibliography Additional Resources on the World Wide Web

Promotional Information

There is a growing realization that many of the problems afflicting American elections can be traced to the electoral system itself, in particular to our winner-take-all approach to electing officials. Douglas Amy demonstrates that switching to proportional representation elections-the voting system used in most other Western democracies, by which officials are elected in large, multimember districts according to the proportion of the vote won by their parties-would enliven democratic political debate, increase voter choice and voter turnout, ensure fair representation for third parties and minorities, eliminate wasted votes and "spoliers," and ultimately produce policies that better reflect the public will. Looking beyond new voting machines and other quick fixes for our electoral predicament, this new edition of Real Choices/New Voices offers a timely and imaginative way out of the frustrations of our current system of choosing leaders.

About the Author

Douglas Amy is professor of politics at Mount Holyoke College. He lives in Northampton, MA.

Reviews

"Amy makes the case that American politics can be re-energized by adopting proportional representation, the method by which most Western democracies vote.... 'It is time for this debate to begin,' Mr. Amy believes. This book could help begin it." - New York Times Book Review (of the first edition)