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| America’s other elections problem | In some cases initiatives provide lawmakers with a clear signal of public opinion. Measures to legalise marijuana, for example, won support at the ballot box long before legislatures were willing to embrace the policy. “If democracy is having policy that is more reflective of where public… |
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| Supreme Court Upholds Washington’s Vote-by-Mail System In 5-4 Ruling | Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University and former Whatcom County Council member, said Washington’s established vote-by-mail system has earned the confidence of many voters despite years of political attacks. “This is just Trump using… |
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| After ‘brutal sessions,’ in Olympia, some want change | Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University, is one of those critics. Donovan said on the one hand, a part-time legislature like Washington’s, which pays lawmakers only about $67,000 a year, could encourage people to maintain other jobs — and… |
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| Washington's Legislature is part-time. But after 'brutal sessions,' some want change | Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University, is one of those critics. Donovan said on the one hand, a part-time legislature like Washington’s, which pays lawmakers only about $67,000 a year, could encourage people to maintain other jobs — and lead to more… |
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| Can a political office be truly ‘nonpartisan’? | Nonpartisan offices have their roots in a reform movement around the turn of the 20th century. At the time, political parties were not primarily associated with ideology, said Todd Donovan, political science professor at Western Washington University. Instead, parties… |
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| Gerrymandering erodes confidence in democracy | This erosion of legitimacy can ripple far beyond Election Day. "If they didn't win fair and square, why should I believe what they say? Why should I pay my taxes? You get an erosion of civic behavior," Bowler said. The study also connects gerrymandering to broader perceptions of corruption… |
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| Voter turnout hits modern low in WA | Voter turnout for this November’s election was the lowest on record for a general election in Washington state history, according to a Seattle Times analysis of election data from the Secretary of State’s Office. Nearly two-thirds of registered voters did not turn in ballots, leaving… |
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| Whatcom primary ballots burst with candidates | “It was the norm around here to have incumbents run unopposed,” said Todd Donovan, a professor of political science at Western Washington University and a sitting county council member. Donovan is not up for election this year. “Even with open seats, a lot of the time… |
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| Why Washington lost its early presidential primary bid | Last week, the rule-making arm of the Democratic National Committee approved a new draft plan for which states will vote first in 2024. Washington didn't make the cut. That's likely because the Evergreen State is too politically left and too geographically west, Todd Donovan, a… |
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| Ranked-choice voting is on the ballot in some state elections | There is growing agreement that the argument ranked-choice voting is “too complicated” is outdated, said Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University. Instead, new research focuses on how to make ballots more accessible for voters. While there are… |