Real Choices/New Voices: The Case for Proportional Representation Elections in the United States

By Douglas J. Amy

Book Overview

Real Choices/New Voices persuasively argues that plurality rules are unfair, outmoded, and undemocratic and that the United States should adopt a different electoral system-proportional representation-by which officials are elected in large, multimember districts according to the proportion of the vote won by their parties. Amy maintains that his system will encourage the emergence of new parties, minimize wasted votes, eliminate gerrymandering, revitalize issue-oriented campaigns, enhance representation for women and minorities, and, ultimately, increase voter turnout.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231081553
• ISBN13: 9780231081559
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.8"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Well done, but rather polemic

The book is a good introduction to voting systems, but it is very much a book of advocacy. Amy favors proportional representation (PR), and as a result he tends to minimize the defects and maximize the advantages of PR systems and maximize the defects and minimize the advantages of anything else.If you just want an introduction to voting systems, I recommend David M. Farrell's book, "Electoral Systems."

Well done!

This book is a "must read" for anyone who is serious about reforming the electoral system. It is cogent and well written. It covers the arguments for and against PR (proportional representation), and has useful nuts-and-bolts appendices.I strongly recommend it.

An invaluable introduction to an important topic

"Real Choices, New Voices" first was published when the movement for proportional representation in the United States was hardly a blip on the radar screen, back in 1993. Now we have seen a major referendum on it, serious discussion about "PR" in numerous states and an ongoing international trend toward PR systems. Amy's book has been a key reason why -- his arguments are clear, powerful and well-supported with evidence. Once a reader reads "Real Choices, New Voices," he or she will never be able to look at our democracy in the same way. If you think our system is working, don't worry about the book -- if you're like the rest of us, I'd urge you to get a copy today!