Gluesenkamp Perez, Golden Introduce Bill to Establish Bipartisan Electoral Reform Select Committee

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Rep. Jared Golden (ME-02) announced the introduction of legislation to establish a bipartisan select committee to examine current electoral methods and recommend reforms to reduce political polarization and strengthen our nation’s democracy.

The Electoral Reform Select Committee Act would convene a bipartisan group of lawmakers to consider alternatives to our current winner-take-all electoral system, such as multi-member districts with proportional representation, expanding the House, and independent redistricting commissions.

“Regardless of party or ideology, more and more Americans feel that our democracy isn’t working for them. Voters feel unrepresented and are losing faith in a government that they view as unreflective of their communities and values. As Members of Congress, we need to take a step back, reexamine how we got here, and work toward what we can do to fix it,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “This bipartisan select committee will look at the role our electoral system plays in exacerbating the hyper-partisanship, cynicism, and obstruction that has taken over today’s politics. It’s past time for Congress to set aside the conflict and chaos of clickbait politics and get back to work governing on behalf of the American people.”

“Americans on both sides are fed up with a political system that incentivizes division,” said Rep. Golden. “Fixing our laws to make government more representative doesn’t just sound great on paper: states like Maine have already proven it works. Getting both Democrats and Republicans to start talking about solutions is the first step to a better future.”

This legislation has the support of more than 170 political scientists, who wrote a public letter of support calling for Congress to “take this step towards reversing today’s dangerous levels of polarization and dysfunction and to strengthen itself as the fulcrum of our democracy.”

Earlier this year, Reps. Gluesenkamp Perez and Golden introduced bipartisan election reform legislation, as well as the BRIDGE to Congress Resolution to make it less difficult for constituents to appear before House committees.

Full text of the bill is available here.