Nation Topics - Electoral Reform | The Nation

Progressive organizations are learning to use ballot propositions to promote bold, innovative policy on the minimum wage, renewable energy, stem cell research and voting reform.

Voting debacles in Florida and Ohio have inspired a new crop of Democratic candidates to run for Secretary of State, transforming an oft-neglected post into a platform for activism.

It's time for conviction, not caution, as Democratic voters show they would support a party that promised the country a course correction--an exit from Iraq and an end to corruption and the ineptitude of the GOP.

For a long time on Capitol Hill, no one was interested in lobbying reform. Now everybody wants to get in on the act.

Democratic gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey gave the lie to
the GOP contention that "conservatism is on the march." But infighting
among Dems doomed electoral reform in Ohio, gay marriage is still
illegal in Texas and there's a long way to go to mid-year elections.

There's a way to cure Ohio's dysfunctional electoral system: an
election-reform referendum that allows creation of "swing districts."

Progressives lack a common set of that tie a movement together. But
they can build on conservatives' proven strategy of slowly creating a
broad consensus.

Tom DeLay's indictments open the door for Congress to overhaul current
lobbying laws and fix the broken system of campaign finance,
redistricting and electoral laws that foster misconduct on both sides
of the aisle.

With key provisions of the Voting Rights Act up for renewal, Congress must remain committed to the equal right to vote.

Talk about surprising developments, Wal-Mart has done something good.