A Preliminary Discussion on Alternative Electoral Systems and Black Legislators: A National Survey

This article focuses on the views and attitudes of African American State Legislators towards alternatives to the single member district system of election. Data are primarily from the responses of 106 questionnaires completed from the total of 575 mailed to Black State Senators and Representatives throughout the United States. The major findings were that more than 90 percent desire additional information on various forms of proportional representation, 80 percent believe such information would be helpful in the next reapportionment period and 82 percent said there has been no serious discussion of the issue in their state. A comprehensive education and training program on alternative electoral systems needs to be conducted in southern states for legislators, civic and religious leaders to provide them with options in the 2001 reapportionment/redistricting political struggle