Monday, September 14, 2015

Why we need proportional representation: Women in state houses still stalled in most of America

Winner-take-all races (single member districts) reliably reduce women's share of the seats in legislative bodies.  Electing from multi-member districts increases women's electoral success.


  • State Legislatures: 
    (click to enlarge)

    It's been 100 years since women were guaranteed the right to vote nationwide, but women remain badly unrepresented in government. As the above map by Daniel Donner demonstrates, women are only approaching parity with men in a few state legislatures. In a new post, Donner looks at the relationship between female representation in each state legislature and party affiliation, and finds some real surprises.

"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."