I started the Top Two Pro group. Our purpose statement: The Single Nontransferable Vote (SNTV) is a system that allows for minority representation. SNTV is a proven constitutionally protected voting method with a history in the United States. This system has also been studied in its applications abroad. The voting process is simple: voters in each Washington State House district will receive one vote to elect both seats. SNTV can also be used in non-partisan elections, including Washington’s non-partisan prefers party descriptive ballot.
The popular term for this version of SNTV is Top-Two Pro. Washington’s two round, single winner election is referred to as the Top-Two – it is a majority voting system. Top-Two Pro is proportional (That’s the meaning of the term “pro”.) It is different as it elects the top two vote getters for State Representative among all the candidates in one election. This means almost every House district in the state would elect a Democrat and Republican to Olympia.
The current system that divides House races into individual positions / races was a political decision made in Olympia in the mid 1960s. Before then, State House races had all the candidates on one ballot line. Voters would get two votes to elect the top two vote getters. Top-Two Pro provides a single potent vote to elect the top two. This vote is potent because no matter where the redistricting commission placed you, you could elect a representative to Olympia. This is appealing to voters who, by way of the commission, are in the political minority in their district. Top-Two Pro also creates space for independent and 3rd party candidates.
Top-Two Pro would elect more rural Democrats and urban Republicans. Almost every delegation to Olympia would have members from both parties.
Top-Two Pro recognizes Washingtonians as taxpayers and citizens subject to the laws and rules of the our state. This demands fair and effective representation. Top-Two Pro: a potent vote for everyone!
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