Fair Representation Act

Ranked Choice Voting: This system allows voters to rank candidates by preference, which can change how ballots are tabulated for both single-seat and multi-seat elections (Section 101).

Federal Support for Implementation: The Commission will provide payments to States, calculated by a per capita amount between $4 and $8 based on registered voters, to help cover costs like voting equipment updates, training, and voter education (Section 331).

Nonpartisan Redistricting: States are required to follow specific criteria for drawing districts, including requirements to substantially equalize population and comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Section 303).

Protection Against Partisan Advantage: The bill prohibits using redistricting plans that materially favor or disfavor any political party when considered on a statewide basis (Section 303).

Increased Transparency in Redistricting: The Act requires the entity developing a plan to maintain a public website featuring proposed maps, demographic data, and a method for public comment (Section 304).

Public Participation in Redistricting: States must hold public hearings in different regions and must make notices available in languages required under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Section 304).

Mandatory Multi-Member Districts: States with six or more Representatives must establish districts that elect between three and five Representatives, rather than single-member districts (Section 201).

Mandatory At-Large Elections: States entitled to five or fewer Representatives must elect all such Representatives at large (Section 202).

Potential Diminishment of Voting Rights: An exception exists where the use of multi-member or at-large districts might be found by a court to diminish the ability of citizens to elect their preferred candidates based on race or color (Section 206).

Court-Developed Redistricting Plans: If a State fails to enact a plan by a specific deadline, a federal court may take over the authority to develop and publish a redistricting plan for that State (Section 305).