Over the course of American history, there have been efforts to ensure all citizens have the right to vote. However, there is still one final group in the United States that has been unfairly disenfranchised: former felons.
Tag: election
An Argument for Abolishing the New York State Senate
A famous dissenting opinion by former US Supreme Court Associate Justice Louis Brandeis once described the condition of states in our system of government as “laboratories of democracy.” If this is true, then why are they all nearly identical to each other in terms of constitutional structure?
Climate Change as a Priority in Future Global Elections
In last year’s 117th Congress, 139 out of 535 elected officials (~25%) refused to acknowledge the existence of climate change. It is important to note that these 139 representatives have collectively received $61 million in lifetime contributions from the coal, oil, and gas industries.
Choosing How to Choose: Alternative Electoral Systems
While there is likely no single reform that could solve all the problems with American politics, it could be good to look at some alternative voting systems that could be implemented in the United States. The majoritarian electoral system used in the US is not the only type that is used across the world, after all.
Enlarging the House
The House of Representatives is legally mandated to contain 435 seats pursuant to the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929. This mandate on the number of congressional districts has remained stagnant despite the fact that the average population in each congressional district has nearly tripled from 280,675 persons in 1930 to more than 760,000 persons today.
The Tennessee Three
Declarations of fascism rang throughout the chamber of the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 3 as House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) called for a vote on three resolutions to expel three Democrats for “disorderly behavior.”
Binghamton University Alum Hakeem Jeffries Becomes New House Minority Leader in Democratic Leadership Shakeup
With Jeffries becoming more prominent in American politics now than ever before, Happy Medium offers a profile of the congressman as a politician and as a Binghamton alum.
Student Candidate Chance Fiorisi Stakes His Claim for Binghamton City Council
BU undergraduate aims to knock on every door in the district with the goal of building a grassroots campaign.
2022 Midterm Elections Recap
HM Political Director Bryan Goodman breaks down what happened in November and what it means going forward.
The “Great Debate” Between College Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians Marks a New Era of Cross-aisle Collaboration at BU
A debate between the three organizations sparked discussions about some of the most hot-button issues of the midterm elections.
State Assembly District #123: Donna Lupardo vs. Sophia Resciniti
Over a nearly two-decade career as a state assemblywoman for New York’s 123rd assembly district and a further 40 years as a district resident, Donna Lupardo (D) has seen it all. According to her opponent Sophia Resciniti (R), this longevity represents the very subject of her chagrin toward the political establishment. Featuring an interview with Assemblywoman Lupardo.
Gen Z Candidates for Congress are Proving that Grassroots Organizing Works
– but not without the help of some
powerful allies.
The Midterm Effect: Why The Incumbent President’s Party Tends to Struggle
Every two years voters across the country get the opportunity to indicate their approval or disapproval of their current president through the midterm elections. But the inhabitants of the White House won’t change, so why should we care?
Binghamton Students and Local Democrats Host Reproductive Rights Rallies on Same Day, Showing that Abortion is on the Ballot
On Saturday, October 8, two reproductive rights rallies were held in the Binghamton area: one held on the Binghamton University campus and the other in front of the Broome County Courthouse in downtown Binghamton.
What Special Congressional Elections Tell Us About the Midterms
Political Director Bryan Goodman breaks down recent election results and examines data suggesting a current ‘blue shift’ in favor of Democrats.
Referendums and Initiatives Can Hurt Democracy, Unless We Rethink How We Use Them
The international plan to increase democracy has seemingly been the introduction of direct democratic items, such as referendums and initiatives, especially in cases of contentious policies or fundamental political changes. However, direct democratic components can be dangerous to democracy in all but a few cases.
Before Redistricting Commissions Put an End to Gerrymandering, They Have to Actually Work
Following the 2020 census, redistricting commissions set to work to redraw voting district lines—to varying degrees of success.
Viral Division: The Politicization of COVID-19 in America
By election day in 2020, despite the universal impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent regulations (i.e. mask mandates and lockdowns), perceptions of the pandemic differed wildly between Democrats and Republicans. How did such a universal problem as the COVID-19 pandemic become politicized?
The Dead Political Parties of America
By looking at failed American political parties, what they stood for, who made up their voter base, and why they fell, we can better understand our two-party system.
A Sit-down with Former Congressional Candidate Mikayla Ridley
The following is an interview with Mikayla Ridley conducted on February 11, eight days after she dropped out of the NY-22 congressional race.
Happy Medium 