Under the Fair Representation Act, Hawaii voters would elect both of their 2 representatives statewide using proportional ranked choice voting.
Gerrymandering would be eliminated, every election would be competitive, and Hawaii voters would have far more power than they do today.
With more choices in the general election and proportional outcomes, the Fair Representation Act will create more opportunities for urban Republicans, rural Democrats, independents, women, and people of color.
Improved Partisan Representation
Proportional ranked choice voting elects candidates from each party reflecting the political makeup of that region.
Hawaii’s statewide partisanship is 63% Democrat / 37% Republican. The Fair Representation Act would provide for a balance of seats between the two parties. In addition to 1 Democratic seat, Republicans would be likely to win a seat, gaining representation that they previously did not have, despite making up 37% of the electorate.
Better Racial Representation
Proportional ranked choice voting increases the number of districts where communities of color have the power to elect a candidate of their choice. In a district with 2 representatives, any candidate earning over 33.3% of the vote wins a seat, creating the opportunity for more groups to have a seat at the table.
With the Fair Representation Act, Asian American or Pacific Islander voters are over the threshold to elect in 1 of the 2 statewide representatives. The second seat is a “coalition seat,” or a seat where no individual racial or ethnic group is over the threshold on its own. These seats provide opportunities for coalition-building candidates.
The “power-to-elect” threshold represents a floor for representation, not a ceiling: candidates of color are most likely to succeed in these districts, but may also be elected in other districts.
An End to Gerrymandering
Under the Fair Representation Act, Hawaii would no longer have to draw congressional districts every ten years, avoiding a process that is contentious, time-consuming, and expensive.
More Competitive Elections
Eliminating “winner-take-all” rules will make Hawaiian elections more competitive. The state would most likely elect at least one member of both major parties. Even for seats that are considered “safe” for one party, candidates will be competing against other members of their party, creating healthy competition both within parties and between parties.
When elections are competitive, representatives are accountable to voters and have a greater incentive to champion bipartisan policies that have broad support.
A More Expressive Ballot
In proportional ranked choice voting, voters have the option to rank candidates in order of preference: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so forth. Voters are free to express their honest preferences without fear of “spoiler candidates” or “wasted votes”.
Learn more here about how ranked choice in multi-winner districts improves our elections.
