Calling for Volunteers: Education Project
What Are Multi-Member Districts and How Do They Work?
Voters and legislators across the country are changing voting methods, and the subject of multi-member districts is perhaps least understood of the options.
Previously, the Washington State League has produced the following study and review of election methods:
Now we’re ready to educate League members across the state about current implementation of multi-member districts, such as the uses in the Albany, CA, town council; the Cambridge, MA, town council; the Portland, OR, city council (in progress); and the Washington State House of Representatives.
In 1967, during the Civil Rights Era, Congress passed a law forbidding multi-member districts because they could be used to deny representation to minorities. Recently, jurisdictions have adopted multi-member districts to expressly give representation to minorities. How does this work? What has changed? We’ll use League guidelines to plan an accurate, balanced, and credited project.
If this interests you, please contact Kit Muehlman, kit.travis@yahoo.com. We are looking for volunteers to contribute to the education project, as well as volunteers who are willing to be liaisons to their local Leagues.
