On Friday, March 3rd, 2017, the Utah House voted 59-12 to pass HB 349, a bill that would require the use of ranked choice voting for nearly all Utah elections. Rep.
Democracies are not the normal order of human civilizations. Throughout history, and even today, people are far more likely to live under monarchies, dictatorships, and authoritarian regimes than they are to be self-governed. Our democracy was inspired by an era of enlightenment that recognized the importance of individual freedom and human dignity. Maintaining it requires vigilance and direct participation when things have gone awry.
In January, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced a bill that would allow the importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada to the US. The bill failed with a vote of 52-46, despite having some partisan support, with 13 Republican senators voting in favor. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was a notable Democratic opponent of the bill, stating safety concerns.
On Wednesday, March 1, a nonpartisan, top-two bill proposed by Illinois state State Rep. Sara Jimenez (R) was assigned to Election and Campaign Finance Committee. The bill, HB3655, was originally introduced on February 10, and would make Illinois the third state to adopt a top-two primary system for statewide elections.
The 2016 election cycle was an exceptionally rough one for voters and candidates alike. The divisive rhetoric and lack of support for the major-party candidates revealed a failure in our system to engage all voters and demographics alike.
With Republicans in control of the White House and both houses of Congress, Democrats may find refuge in the use of states’ rights and even local defiance of federal policy on the city level.
Heather Gerkin, the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School writes:
The most emotional and impactful moment from Donald Trump's speech before a joint session in Congress Tuesday night was when President Trump honored fallen Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens and his wife, Carryn Owens.
"Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity," said Trump.
The Arizona State Legislature passed HB 2302 by a vote of 34-24 in February. The bill adds two statutes to the Arizona constitution making it illegal for presidential electors to vote against their party’s candidate. An elector would be automatically ineligible to serve should they choose to put conscience above party loyalty.