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Free & Fair Elections
No. 1: Fair Elections

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to establish an affirmative right to vote, require ranked-choice voting and proportional representation in federal elections, abolish the Electoral College, establish nonpartisan redistricting standards, and create an independent Federal Election Commission.

Who are to be the electors of the federal representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor; not the learned, more than the ignorant; not the haughty heirs of distinguished names, more than the humble sons of obscurity and unpropitious fortune. The electors are to be the great body of the people of the United States.

- Federalist No. 57 (Madison)

When a people once resign the privilege of a fair election, they clearly have none left worth contending for.

- Anti-Federalist (Brutus IV)

Why This Amendment?

Voting is the base requirement of a democracy. This is especially true in the United States, where the Constitution establishes that power rests with the people. If the people are the source of authority, their ability to exercise that authority cannot be meaningfully restricted. If citizens cannot reliably vote, no other part of the system can function as intended, which is exactly what both Madison and Brutus IV was explaining. Yet the Constitution doesn't say citizens have a right to vote. It only says they can't be denied because of race, sex, or age. States can deny it for other reasons. 
  • Barriers to Voting

    Some states make registration hard, remove people from voter lists without consent, limit early voting, and close polling places so lines are hours long.

  • Gerrymandering

    Politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their politicians. They do this by drawing district maps that guarantee their party wins, even if people in the state vote for the other party.

  • Winner Takes All

    In most US elections, the candidate with the most votes wins—even without majority support. In a three-way race, someone can win with 34% while 66% of voters preferred someone else.

  • Voter Discrepancy

    The Electoral College doesn't always reflect the popular vote. A candidate can win the most individual votes nationwide but lose the presidency. There have been 5 elections where this has happened: 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016.

  • Powerless Deadlock

    The group that watches elections can't actually do anything. The Federal Election Commission is set up so it deadlocks on purpose and never punishes anyone.

Learn More 
The Full Text • Amendment I

Fair Elections

Each section shows the legal text and what it means in plain language. You don't need a law degree to understand what you're voting on.

Current status
Status Voting open
2 Verified votes cast
Right to Vote

Legal text

  1. The right of citizens of the United States, eighteen years of age or older, to vote in any election for public office shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State.
  2. Every citizen eighteen years of age or older shall be automatically registered to vote at their residence upon reaching such age or establishing residency. No affirmative act of registration shall be required.
  3. The United States and each State shall provide, without charge, a government-issued voting credential to every eligible voter for use in all elections. No voter shall be denied the right to vote for failure to possess or present such credential. The voting credential shall be made reasonably accessible for issuance and replacement through multiple government channels, as provided by law. The form, issuance, maintenance, and security of the credential shall be prescribed by law. Such credential shall be made available prior to the first federal general election held after ratification of this article.
  4. No citizen may be removed from voter rolls except upon death, written request, criminal conviction carrying disenfranchisement during the period of incarceration only, or change of residence to another State. Any voting rights suspended due to incarceration shall be automatically restored upon release from custody, without condition, delay, or additional legal process. Removal based on change of residence may occur only after confirmation of registration in the new State.
  5. Any citizen whose eligibility is challenged shall remain eligible to vote while the challenge is adjudicated.
  6. Early voting shall be available for no fewer than fourteen days preceding any federal election.
  7. No voter shall be required to wait more than thirty minutes to cast a ballot.
  8. Absentee ballots shall be available to any voter upon request without requiring cause.
  9. Elections for federal office shall be held on a national holiday. All employers shall permit employees sufficient time to vote without loss of pay.

Plain Language

  1. If you're 18 or older and a U.S. citizen, you get to vote. No government—federal or state—can stop you.
  2. You don't have to sign up to vote. The government does it for you automatically when you turn 18 or move somewhere new.
  3. The government gives you a free ID card for voting. If you don't have it with you, you still get to vote. They have to make it easy to get one before the next big election.
  4. Once you're registered, you stay registered unless: you die, you ask to be removed, you're currently in prison, or you move to a different state. If you went to prison, your voting rights come back the moment you walk out—no paperwork, no waiting.
  5. If someone says you can't vote, you still get to vote while they figure out if the challenge is valid.
  6. You can vote early—at least two weeks before Election Day for federal elections.
  7. The longest you should ever wait in line to vote is 30 minutes.
  8. You can vote by mail if you want. You don't need to explain why.
  9. Election Day for federal offices becomes a national holiday. Your boss has to give you time to vote and still pay you.
Winner Determination

Legal text

  1. No candidate for federal office shall be declared elected without receiving support from a majority of voters, determined through ranked-choice voting whereby voters rank candidates in order of preference and ballots are counted in rounds, eliminating the candidate with fewest votes each round and transferring those ballots to the next-ranked candidate, until one candidate receives a majority.
  2. Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected from multi-member districts of two to five Representatives by single transferable vote. States apportioned fewer than two Representatives shall elect members at-large by ranked-choice voting requiring a majority.
  3. The President and Vice President shall be elected directly by the people of the United States through ranked-choice voting. The pair of candidates receiving a majority of votes cast nationwide shall be elected. If no pair receives a majority after all elimination rounds, the pair with the most votes shall be elected. The Electoral College is hereby abolished.
  4. Within ten years of ratification, each State shall adopt ranked-choice voting for all elections for state and local office.

Plain Language

  1. To win a federal election, you need more than half the votes—not just the most. Voters rank candidates (1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.). If nobody gets over 50%, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those votes go to each voter's next choice. This repeats until someone crosses the majority line.
  2. Instead of each congressional district electing one representative, districts are combined to elect 2–5 representatives together. Seats are divided proportionally — so if 40% of voters prefer one party and 60% prefer another, the seats split roughly that way. This is called single transferable vote. States with only one representative elect that member at-large, where all voters in the state vote together using ranked-choice voting. Right now, winner-take-all means 40% of voters in every district elect no one. Multi-member districts let nearly every voter help elect a representative who actually reflects their views.
  3. The president is elected by the whole country's popular vote, not state-by-state through the Electoral College. The Electoral College goes away entirely. Voters rank presidential tickets the same way. If no one gets a majority after all rounds, whoever has the most votes wins. 
  4. States have 10 years to start using ranked-choice voting for their own elections too.
Redistricting

Legal text

  1. Each State shall establish congressional districts according to the criteria set forth in this section.
  2. If a State fails to establish districts within one year following each decennial census, or if a court finds the State's districts violate this article, a special redistricting commission shall draw districts for that State. The commission shall consist of:
  • Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House
  • Two members appointed by the House Minority Leader
  • Two members appointed by the Senate Majority Leader
  • Two members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader
  • One member selected unanimously by the other eight
  • No member may be a current or former elected official, registered lobbyist, or national party officer.
  1. Approval of any redistricting plan by the commission shall require the affirmative vote of at least seven members.
  2. The commission shall publish a final plan within ninety days of assuming jurisdiction.
  3. Districts shall be drawn according to the following criteria, in order of priority:
  • Each district shall elect no fewer than three and no more than five representatives
  • Equal population
  • Compliance with the Voting Rights Act and all applicable federal law
  • Protection of minority voting power
  • Contiguity
  • Preservation of communities of interest, counties, and municipalities
  1. Districts shall not be drawn with the intent or effect of favoring or disfavoring any political party.
  2. In drawing districts, no consideration shall be given to the residence of any incumbent or candidate, the political party affiliation of voters, or the voting history of the population.
  3. No State shall redistrict except following a decennial census, unless required by court order to comply with this article.

Plain Language

  1. Every state must draw congressional districts following these rules.
  2. If a state doesn't draw new districts within one year after the census, or if a court says the districts are unfair, a special 9-person commission takes over. The commission includes people picked by leaders from both parties, plus one person everyone agrees on. Nobody on the commission can be a politician, lobbyist, or party official.
  3. At least 7 of the 9 commissioners must agree on any map.
  4. Once the commission takes over, they have 90 days to finish the job.
  5. When drawing districts, these rules apply in this exact order of importance:
  • Each district elects 3–5 representatives
  • Districts must have equal population
  • Must follow the Voting Rights Act
  • Must protect minority voters' ability to elect representatives
  • Districts must be connected (no scattered pieces)
  • Keep neighborhoods, counties, and cities together when possible
  1. Districts cannot be drawn to help or hurt any political party.
  2. Map-drawers cannot consider where current politicians live, which party voters belong to, or how people voted before.
  3. States can only redraw districts after the census every 10 years—unless a court orders them to fix a violation.
Independent Election Administration

Legal text

  1. There shall be a Federal Election Commission composed of seven members appointed by the President with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate.
  2. Commissioners shall serve staggered terms of ten years. No person may serve more than one term.
  3. No more than three commissioners may be affiliated with the same political party. At least one commissioner shall be affiliated with neither major party. A Commissioner shall be deemed 'non-affiliated' if they have not held an elected office, served as a registered lobbyist, or held a leadership position in a political party that received more than 5% of the national vote at any point in the previous 10 years.
  4. Commissioners may be removed only for cause by two-thirds vote of the Senate.
  5. The Commission shall:
  • Administer federal elections;
  • Enforce this article and all federal election laws;
  • Establish uniform standards for ballot design, voting systems, and election security;
  • Certify election results;
  • Investigate violations and impose civil penalties.
  1. The Commission shall have authority to issue binding regulations and to seek injunctive relief in federal court.

Plain Language

  1. A new Federal Election Commission runs federal elections. It has 7 members chosen by the president, but two-thirds of the Senate must approve them.
  2. Each commissioner serves 10 years. You only get one term—no reappointments.
  3. No more than 3 commissioners can belong to the same party. At least one must be independent—meaning they haven't been a politician, lobbyist, or party leader in the last 10 years.
  4. A commissioner can only be fired for serious misconduct, and it takes two-thirds of the Senate to do it.
  5. The Commission's job is to:
  • Run federal elections
  • Enforce election laws
  • Set national rules for ballots, voting machines, and security
  • Officially declare who won
  • Investigate cheating and issue fines
  1. The Commission can create rules everyone must follow and can go to federal court to stop violations.
Election Integrity

Legal text

  1. The Federal Election Commission shall have authority to investigate violations and impose civil penalties.
  2. Any citizen denied the right to vote in violation of this article shall have standing to bring suit in federal court for injunctive relief and damages.
  3. Where any election conducted in violation of this article a suit to invalidate an election under this article may be filed within fourteen days of certification of election results by:
  • The Federal Election Commission;
  • The Attorney General of the United States;
  • Any candidate whose name appeared on the ballot in the affected election.
  1. Jurisdiction for suits under subsection 5 shall lie in the United States District Court for the district in which the violation occurred, with direct appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States.
  2. If a court finds a violation of this article:
  • The court shall formally declare the violation;
  • The court may order a new election in the affected districts, to be held within sixty days, only if the number of voters affected by the violation exceeds the margin of victory;
  • The court shall order a new election if the Commission finds a pattern of intentional disenfranchisement, regardless of margin.
  1. The burden of proof shall be clear and convincing evidence.
  2. Upon invalidation of an election:
  • If an incumbent holds the office and was not a candidate in the invalidated election, the incumbent shall continue in office until certification of the new election;
  • In all other cases, the office shall be declared vacant and filled according to the applicable constitutional or statutory line of succession until certification of the new election;
  • No person serving under this subsection may make permanent appointments to the federal judiciary, sign treaties, or issue executive orders except as necessary to address an imminent threat to national security;
  • No person whose election is invalidated under this section may fill the resulting vacancy;
  • Service under this subsection shall terminate upon certification of the new election, and in no event exceed sixty days.

Plain Language

  1. The Federal Election Commission can investigate rule-breaking and issue fines.
  2. If you're blocked from voting and it violates this amendment, you can sue in federal court. The court can order them to let you vote and make them pay you damages.
  3. If an election broke these rules, someone can sue to throw out the results—but they only have 14 days after the results are official. Only three parties can file this kind of lawsuit: the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Attorney General, or a candidate who was on the ballot.
  4. These lawsuits go to the federal court where the violation happened. If someone appeals, it goes straight to the Supreme Court—no middle steps.
  5. If a court finds the rules were broken:
  • The court officially says so, even if it didn't change who won
  • The court can order a redo election in the affected areas within 60 days—but only if the number of people affected is bigger than the winner's lead
  • The court must order a redo if the FEC finds a deliberate pattern of blocking people from voting, no matter what the margin was
  1. To win the lawsuit, you need strong proof—not just "maybe it happened," but evidence that clearly shows the violation occurred.
  2. If an election gets thrown out:
  • If the current officeholder wasn't running in that election, they stay in the job temporarily
  • Otherwise, the office is empty and the next person in the line of succession steps in temporarily
  • Whoever fills in can't appoint judges permanently, sign treaties, or issue executive orders unless there's a national security emergency
  • The person whose election got thrown out can't be the one who fills in
  • The fill-in only serves until the new election is done—60 days max
Enforcement

Legal text

  1. The rights secured by this article are self-executing and shall not require enabling legislation to be enforceable.
  2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
  3. Any citizen of the United States shall have standing to bring suit in any federal court to enforce the provisions of this article.
  4. No State law or action inconsistent with this article shall have any force or effect.
  5. No provision of this article shall be construed to limit individual rights or remedies otherwise available under this Constitution or the laws of the United States.

Plain Language

  1. The moment it becomes part of the Constitution, people can use it. Congress does not have to pass another law first to “turn it on.” If someone violates it, a court can enforce it right away.
  2. Congress is allowed to pass laws that help carry out and protect this amendment. The amendment already works by itself, but Congress can create detailed rules to make sure it is followed properly.
  3. Any U.S. citizen can go to federal court if they believe this amendment is being broken. They do not have to be a politician or a government official. Regular people are allowed to ask a judge to enforce it.
  4. If a state makes a law that goes against this amendment, that state law does not count. The amendment wins. States cannot ignore it or work around it.
  5. This amendment does not take away any other rights people already have. It adds protections, but it does not reduce anything that already exists in the Constitution or other laws. If someone has another legal option to protect their rights, they can still use it.
Effective Date and Implementation

Legal text

  1. This article shall take effect immediately upon ratification.
  2. Congress shall provide for the funding necessary to implement this article through existing appropriations, budget reallocations, or reductions in other expenditures, and may not fund its implementation through fees, surcharges, or new taxes imposed on the general public. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit Congress from adjusting tax policy applicable to higher‑income individuals or large corporations to meet these obligations.
  3. The voting credential required by Section 1(c) shall be made available prior to the first federal general election held after ratification.
  4. The Federal Election Commission shall be fully constituted within one hundred eighty days of ratification. If the Commission is not fully constituted within one year of ratification, the Chief Justice of the United States shall appoint temporary commissioners to serve until permanent commissioners are confirmed.
  5. Multi-member districts required by Section 2(b) shall be established following the first decennial census after ratification.
  6. States shall adopt ranked-choice voting for state and local elections within ten years of ratification, as provided in Section 2(d).
  7. This article shall be inoperative unless ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within one year from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
     

Plain Language

  1. this starts immediately once voted in; no waiting period. 
  2. Congress has to pay for this amendment by using money it already has, by moving money around in the budget, or by cutting other spending. It cannot pay for this by charging new fees or creating new taxes on regular people. But Congress is still allowed to change tax rules for people with higher incomes or big corporations if it needs to cover the cost.
  3. Every voter in the US must have their voter id given to them before the next federal election happens after the amendment begins.
  4. Within 6 months of this amendment passing, all 7 commissioners must be nominated and confirmed. If the commission isn't fully staffed within one year, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court picks temporary commissioners until permanent ones are approved.
  5. Within one year after the amendment is approved, they must create the new multi-member districts. They will use the most recent official population numbers that already exist to draw those districts. Every time a new population count happens, which is every ten years, the districts must be updated again using the new population data. This keeps representation fair as populations grow or shrink in different areas.
  6. Once the amendment becomes law, states have up to ten years to switch their own elections over to ranked-choice voting. They do not have to do it immediately, but they cannot ignore it forever. Within ten years, they must update their state and local election systems.
  7. It only becomes part of the Constitution if enough states approve it. Three-fourths of the states must vote yes. If that does not happen within one year after Congress sends it to the states, then the amendment fails and does not take effect at all.
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Provisional Voting

These options exist because some provisions in this amendment have more than one legitimate solution. The draft reflects what comparative research and international precedent suggest is the strongest approach — but reasonable people can disagree on implementation.

You get one vote per poll. You are not required to vote on any of them. Only vote if you believe the current draft language should change. If none of the listed options reflect your position, you can submit an alternative in the discussion below.

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Questions and Consideration

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