Fairvote has posted this short video about Congressman Don Beyer’s proportional representation bill for congressional elections, introduced earlier this month. In states with more than two representatives, the bill would create U.S. House districts with five representatives (or, in some cases, four or three representatives). They would be elected using the single transferable vote system that is used in Ireland, Australia, Malta, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was also used in New York city 1937-1946. It is a system of proportional representation.

Congressman Beyer is a Democrat from Virginia’s 8th district. The bill has 7 co-sponsors so far.

On June 24, the Michigan State Court of Appeals issued a 4-page opinion in Moore v Genesee County, 355291. The case concerned an election for Goodrich Village Council. In 2020, a candidate forgot to check the box on her candidacy paperwork that says she is qualified for the position and that she is a U.S. citizen. The trial court said it was not a serious error and put her on the ballot. But the State Appeals Court ruled that was an error, and that she should have been left off the ballot.

The candidate also forgot to put her zip code, but the Appeals Court said a zip code is not mandatory on the form.

The candidate, Sherry Ann Moore, won her election in November 2020, and no one on either side of the lawsuit argued that she should be unseated. So the state appeals court decision has no impact, except to settle the issue for future Michigan elections. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.

On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit against parts of the Georgia bill that made it more difficult for certain kinds of voters to vote. USA v State of Georgia, n.d., 1:21cv-2575. Here is the 46-page Complaint. Thanks to the ElectionLawBlog for the link.

The lawsuit alleges that parts of the new law violate the federal Voting Rights Act. Here is a press release from the Justice Department explaining the main points of the lawsuit (in the top paragraph).