A nice example of a Federal legislative initiative giving states the right to establish innovative voting systems. It was offered in 1999:
The States’ Choice of Voting Systems Act (HR 1173)
Sponsored by Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) in the 106th Congress(1999-2000)
H.R.1173
The States’ Choice of Voting Systems Act
SPONSOR: Rep Watt, Melvin L. (introduced 03/17/99)
OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
A bill to provide that States may use redistricting systems for Congressional districts other than single-member districts.
106th Congress, 1st Sesssion H.R. 1173
In the House of Representatives
Mr. Watt of North Carolina introduced the following bill which was referred to the Committee on March 17, 1999.
A Bill
To provide that States may use redistricting systems for Congressional districts other than single member districts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short Title
This act may be cited as the “States’ Choice of Voting Systems Act”
Sec.2 This act entitled “An act for the relief of Doctor Ricardo Vallejo Samala and to provide for the congressional redistricting”, approved December 14, 1967 (2 U.S.C. 2c) is amending by striking “In each state” and all that follows and inserting the following:
Sec 2. Congressional Redistricting.
In each State entitled in the One Hundred Eighth Congress or in any Congress thereafter to more than one representative in Congress under an appointment made pursuant to the provisions of sections 22(a) of the Act of June 18, 1929 (ch.28; 46, Stat. 26)-
” (1) there may be established by law a number of districts equal to the number of the representatives in to which such State is so entitled and representatives may be elected only from single member districts so established, or
“(2) such State may establish a number of districts for election of Representatives that is less than the number of Representatives to which the state is entitled and Representatives may be elected from single member districts , multi member districts, or a combination of single-member and multi-member districts if that state uses a system that meets constitutional standard that each voter should have equal voting power and does not violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.).”
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