Proportional Representation and Fair Elections Act

To modernize U.S. House elections by establishing multi-member districts with ranked choice voting for proportional representation.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act shall be cited as the “Proportional Representation and Fair Elections Act.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE & FINDINGS

2.1 Purpose

• To ensure that legislative bodies more accurately reflect the political, demographic, and geographic diversity of the electorate.

• To reduce polarization, increase voter choice, and eliminate gerrymandering incentives.

2.2 Congressional Findings

• Winner-take-all, single-member district systems systematically distort voter intent and representation.

• Proportional Representation (PR) systems have been shown globally to improve democratic legitimacy, minority voice, and coalition building.

• The use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in multi-member districts achieves proportionality while preserving local accountability.

SECTION 3. TRANSITION TO PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

3.1 Mandated Use of Multi-Member Districts

• States with more than five Representatives shall replace single-member districts with multi-member districts of 3–5 members each.

• Districts must be contiguous, respect communities of interest, and be drawn by independent redistricting commissions (as defined in Section 6).

3.2 Election Method

• Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) shall be used in all multi-member congressional districts.

• Voters rank candidates in order of preference.

• Seats are allocated using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) method to ensure proportionality.

3.3 States with Five or Fewer House Seats

• May retain at-large or single-member representation, but must use RCV to promote majority support.

SECTION 4. BALLOT & VOTING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Ballot Design

• Federal standards for RCV ballot design shall be established by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), including:

  • Clear ranking instructions

  • Accessibility compliance (ADA, multilingual, cognitive clarity)

  • Error-reduction mechanisms (e.g., overvote warnings)

4.2 Voting Systems

• States must adopt certified voting equipment capable of conducting STV tabulation transparently and securely.

• EAC will maintain an approved vendor list and provide grants to support upgrades.

SECTION 5. IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE

5.1 Redistricting Deadline

• States shall adopt and submit multi-member district maps no later than July 1 of the redistricting year following the decennial Census.

5.2 Effective Date

• Provisions shall take effect beginning with the first general election occurring after January 1, 2030.

SECTION 6. INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS

6.1 Requirements

• Each participating state shall establish a nonpartisan independent commission to draw congressional districts.

• Commissions must consist of citizens unaffiliated with elected office or recent political campaigns.

• Appointments shall reflect demographic, geographic, and political balance.

6.2 Public Engagement

• Commissions must hold at least five public hearings across the state, accept community-submitted maps, and publish draft maps for comment.

6.3 Finalization & Oversight

• EAC shall review maps for compliance with proportionality, compactness, and Voting Rights Act protections.

• Legal challenges will be handled in designated federal courts with expedited review.

SECTION 7. VOTER EDUCATION & PUBLIC OUTREACH

7.1 Federal Support

• The Department of Education and the EAC shall jointly fund a “Know Your New Vote” Campaign across all participating states, including:

  • Explainer videos and civic materials

  • Mock elections and classroom modules

  • Town hall events, social media outreach, and multilingual guides

7.2 Local Partnership Incentives

• States and municipalities may apply for outreach grants to develop tailored education strategies for their communities.

SECTION 8. DATA REPORTING & REVIEW

8.1 Federal Monitoring

• States shall submit post-election reports including:

  • Vote totals by rank and district

  • Ballot exhaustion and undervote rates

  • Demographic breakdowns of representation outcomes

8.2 Congressional Review

• A Joint Commission on Electoral Modernization will review national PR implementation and submit findings to Congress every four years.

SECTION 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

• Authorizes $750 million over 10 years to:

  • Fund EAC technical support, state transition grants, public education, and redistricting commission operations

  • Support state and local equipment upgrades and staff training

SECTION 10. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected.