Shelby County
Commissioner Steve Mulroy has been awarded one of three inaugural Democracy
Innovator Awards by FairVote, a national nonprofit election reform and voting
rights organization. Mulroy received the award in the Local Reform category for
“his effective advocacy of instant runoff voting,
which was supported this year by 71% of voters for future city elections in the
City of Memphis, and for his ground-breaking law review articles about
proportional voting systems and the Voting Rights Act.”

Other awardees were
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) in the National Reform category and Maryland
state legislators Jamin Raskin and Sheila Hixson in the State Reform category.

The full text of
the press release announcing the awards is as follows:

FairVote Announces Inaugural Democracy Innovator
Awards

FairVote, a national
nonpartisan, nonprofit election reform and voting rights organization, yesterday
announced the inaugural winners of its Democracy Innovator awards at the
conclusion of a conference about innovative election reforms. FairVote will
issue its Democracy Innovator annually in recognition of outstanding local,
state and national leaders for their effective advocacy of innovative policies
to improve our elections,

This year’s 2008 winners
are:

·National Reform:
Senator Bill Nelson (FL) won for developing and introducing an omnibus package
of needed electoral reforms that include direct election of the president and
innovative ways to improve voter registration, secure elections and meaningful
primaries. Sen. Nelson’s legislative counsel Matt Nosanchuk accepted the award
on behalf on Sen Nelson

·State Reform:
Maryland state senator Jamin Raskin and Maryland state representative Sheila
Hixson won for their leadership in Maryland in 2007 becoming the first state to
adopt the National Popular Vote plan for presidential elections and for
advancing several innovative proposals encouraging voter participation. Sen.
Raskin accepted the award for himself and on behalf of Delegate Hixson.

·Local Reform:
Shelby County (TN) commissioner and University of Memphis law professor Steven
Mulroy won for his effective advocacy of instant runoff voting, which was
supported this year by 71% of voters for future city elections in the City of
Memphis, and for his ground-breaking law review articles about proportional
voting systems and the Voting Rights Act. Commissioner Mulroy accepted the
award.

“Each of these leaders has
been a true inspiration to Americans across the country,” said Rob Richie,
executive director of FairVote. “They embody the spirit of innovation and bold
leadership that defines our country.”

FairVote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that promotes such electoral
reforms as universal voter registration; advance voter registration and civic
learning for 16-year-olds; instant runoff voting for one-winner offices; the
National Popular Vote plan for presidential elections; and proportional voting
and redistricting reform for legislative elections. Musician and author Krist
Novoselic heads FairVote’s board, where he is joined by the New Yorker’s
Hendrik Hertzberg, former presidential candidate John B. Anderson, Advancement
Project counsel Edward Hailes, Jr. and other reform leaders. For more
information, contact Rob Richie at (301) 270-4616.