Mark Pryor’s Post

Should the U.S. implement ranked choice voting? Currently, eight U.S. states have laws regarding ranked choice voting in elections. While Alaska requires it for all general elections, other states, including California, Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia, allow it for some elections, but it’s not a requirement. On November 5, six states will consider ballot measures on ranked choice voting. In this brand new ASP Counterpoint, watch Representatives Jim Himes (D-CT) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) share their viewpoints on whether or not ranked choice voting should be implemented nationwide. https://lnkd.in/e-cnDTke

Understanding Swing States in U.S. Elections Swing states, often called battleground or purple states, are those where no political party has dominant support, making them key in deciding U.S. presidential elections. Unlike a national popular vote, the U.S. uses the Electoral College, where candidates must secure 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win. Swing states, which can shift between Republican or Democratic control, play a critical role in this process. Because of their unpredictability, candidates focus significant campaign efforts here, knowing these states could determine the election outcome. As we approach a potential match-up between Harris and Trump, swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin will likely be central to their strategies.

With a track record of accurately predicting elections since 2012, I can assist you in navigating long-term planning during this upcoming election. My model has only missed 4 states in the last 3 presidential elections and consistently provided close margins in all competitive states. Additionally, it has demonstrated strong predictive capabilities for congressional outcomes. #ElectionPredictions #LongTermPlanning

The next DNC Chair needs to understand, and have a plan to implement, three things: 1. Democrats need to push policies that will help the majority of people in ways they can see; 2. Democrats need positive messaging on what they have done (when they had the opportunity) and what they will do when they have another opportunity. 3. Democrats need to bypass the usual communication pipelines in favor of direct contact with voters – and not just in the heat of elections.

With 1 day to go for the election, Trump has better opinion poll numbers than 2020 in all swing states and at the national level, but most swing states are still within the margin of error. When compared with his 2016 opinion poll numbers, he's doing better in all swing states except for Arizona & Georgia. In both 2016 & 2020 elections, Trump did better than his opinion poll numbers. Improved sampling by opinion polling agencies & illegal migrant voting could be wildcards. Note: Ohio & Florida aren't considered swing states anymore. Note2: "Better" in terms of gap with his opponent.

2024 - A Year of Election: The Largest Electoral Cycle in Human History The year 2024 has been declared as the biggest election year in human history, with 3.7 billion voters across 72 countries participating in the elections. This year, half of the world's population has had the opportunity to cast their ballots, and many more will do so before the year's end. This monumental wave of voting has led to the designation of this year as an "election year" rather than simply an election cycle. From South Africa to the South Pacific, Europe, and America, billions of voters are stepping forward with their electoral cards. Read more on our monthly newsletter here - https://lnkd.in/eiTk7iSN

BallotReady’s (HGL 1) analysis of the last 4 general elections (November 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023) found that nearly 70% of the positions on the ballot went uncontested, leaving voters with little to no choice at the ballot box. This issue is especially prevalent in rural areas, where many local races are entirely unopposed, and where Democrats failed to field a candidate in over 50% of partisan offices during the 2022 midterms. BallotReady is bringing attention to this gap and helping to ensure voters can make meaningful decisions in every election, at every level. Read more about their research in The New York Times below and learn how this issue is impacting elections nationwide.

The lesson? The new "Alaska Model" has led to better outcomes for Alaskans! Better governing, better cooperation across party lines, better campaigning and better solutions! Is it perfect? No, but why Alaskans, who are mostly independent, would want to go backwards to a system of partisan primaries and plurality outcomes that would restrict their own voices does not make sense to me. #VoteNoOnMeasure2 #MyVoteMatters

There are many important dates this month for Connecticut voters to know, including today: 📅 August 8: Deadline to register to vote in person or by mail 📅 August 11: Early voting for primary elections in Connecticut ends 📅 August 13: The primary election in Connecticut Every election matters, including local elections, and every opportunity to vote is a step toward change. This is why we are galvanizing voters, who historically believe their votes do not count, to ensure they are active participants in every election. We understand that voting is not just a civic duty, but a profound statement of personal empowerment. Join us in spreading the word to Connecticut residents about these important dates and for more information on registration deadlines, head to https://buff.ly/36kVq5L.

'The 2024 Elections: What to watch in Republican-leaning Georgia' In this week's #USAPP blog highlight, Robert Howard (Georgia State University) gives an overview of the state’s recent electoral history, writing that while it has tended to lean #Republican at the presidential level, the 2020 result, and recent #Democratic Senate victories indicate that it may be becoming more purple. Read here: https://wp.me/p3I2YF-ehz