Proposals

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Our local governing boards should reflect the voters in the communities they serve. Except for a handful of modern voting methods adopted in the state, most elections in North Dakota are winner-take-all. Boards assembled through winner-take-all elections often fail to reflect all of the voters in the community and many citizen are unrepresented. 

Having politicians face the voters - all their voters - in a truly meaningful election makes a better representative democracy. 

Dr. Powell is not suggesting this form of voting would be useful at this time for any statewide or legislative race, but it would greatly improve races such as county commissioner and school board races in many of our communities. While there is no place specifically being lobbied by candidate Powell to adopt this method of voting, discussing it here does connote a desire by Secretary of State Powell to encourage an examination of the structural voting systems used throughout the state and to help communities elect boards that better represent them. 

Any taxpayer cost associated with this is nil or minimal. We're talking about adding a few extra names to a ballot and reprogramming already purchased counting machines to accept a new method of counting. 

Community participation in our local government structure is central to our American experience. Boards composed of willing citizens that better match our populations are inherently better.