Eric Maskin, a Nobel laureate economist at Harvard, argues America's voting system unfairly represents citizens despite decades of redistricting reform efforts. Guest essay co-author Robbie Robinette of Better Choices for Democracy advocates for alternatives to traditional single-member districts that perpetuate partisan manipulation.

The authors examine proportional representation and majority-rule voting as solutions. Under their proposed system, voters rank candidates and the winner defeats all opponents in head-to-head matchups. This approach would incentivize less extreme candidates who appeal to broader coalitions rather than just partisan bases.

Examples from Nebraska and Kentucky illustrate the potential impact. In Nebraska's 2024 House race, the current system sent three Republicans despite a 64-36 vote split favoring Republicans. Majority-rule voting could produce a more representative outcome with two Republicans and one Democrat. Similarly, Kentucky's Thomas Massie could win under this system despite being a distant third under current rules.

The reform would reduce gerrymandering incentives by making extreme candidates vulnerable in most districts. Map-drawers currently trade margins for seats by spreading supporters thin. Majority-rule voting eliminates this advantage, potentially creating a House more reflective of the political center. Federal law banning multimember districts since 1967 presents implementation challenges, requiring state-by-state adoption or congressional action.