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Montana: So Close to Better Elections
Primaries featuring more choice for voters and candidates almost became the law in Big Sky Country.
Almost One in Three Idahoans Wanted Open Primaries and Instant Runoff Elections
In the reddest patch of Cascadia, a sizable minority of voters wished for a system to thwart spoilers, promote cooperation, and allow participation beyond partisan labels.
Oregon Elections Will Continue to Suffer Spoiler Candidates
The state’s voters rejected Measure 117 to implement ranked choice voting in the state, though notably not in places where voters use ranked choice voting locally. -
Portland Voters Are Shifting into a Higher Gear
More choices mean more legwork but should lead to a more effective and representative government.
Idaho Has a Spoiler Problem
Closed primaries exclude voters, encourage divisive behavior, and can subvert the will of Idahoans.
To Fix Inclusionary Zoning, Fund It
Lessons from places that are solving the biggest problem in abundant housing politics and policy. -
What’s Different in Alaska Since Election Laws Changed
How Alaskans have responded to nonpartisan open primaries and ranked choice voting.
The Contradiction of a Split Vote on Washington’s Anti-Climate Ballot Initiatives
Initiatives 2066 and 2117 are closely linked, but polls and endorsements diverge.
Montana’s Plurality Problem
Political gamesmanship and the spoiler effect prevent majority winners in some of the Treasure State’s most impactful elections. -
Despite Candidate Dropouts, Alaska Elections Are Becoming More Competitive
A dozen candidates removed themselves from 2024’s general election, but voters still have plenty to choose from.
Ranked Choice Voting Already Passed Its First Test in Oregon
Benton County and Corvallis transitioned smoothly to the revised method.
Correcting the Record on Initiative 2066
What the Seattle Times editorial board got wrong about the Washington ballot measure. -
Vancouver Shows Just How Much It Costs to Ban Apartments
Driving problems from inequality to sprawl to pollution, restrictions against anything but single-detached houses have to go.
(Re)explaining Washington’s Climate Commitment Act
Understanding the cap-and-invest law that Washington Initiative 2117 would repeal.
Washington’s Most Parking-Burdened Towns and Cities
A new Sightline report details the arcane, arbitrary, and pernicious rules blocking homes and businesses across the state. -
A Guide to Alaska’s November 2024 Election
Ranked choice voting for president and other offices, plus deciding on whether to keep open primaries and ranked choice voting.
An “Incredible Explosion in Participation”
Democracy Vouchers have fast unlocked a much larger, more diverse group of political donors, says scholar Jennifer Heerwig, who will speak at Town Hall Seattle on October 17.
Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting Strengthened Moderate Republicans in Alaska’s Legislature
Fewer hardliners won office, leading to an overwhelmingly bipartisan Senate majority, a hard-fought win on education funding, and the ability to neutralize culture warriors.
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Today’s top sustainability headlines for Cascadia, curated by Sightline Institute.
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WA voters want to keep carbon and capital gains taxes
Cascade PBS
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OR voters reject statewide ranked choice voting
The Oregonian
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MT voters splitting on two constitutional voting initiatives
Daily Montanan
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First salmon in over a century return to OR’s Klamath Basin
The Oregonian
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Funding approved for nine affordable housing developments in OR
Portland Business Journal
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The rainway vs. the atmospheric river
The Tyee
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Sleepy Bainbridge Island decides how to grow up
The Urbanist
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WA tribe to manage national wildlife refuges
Northwest Treaty Tribes
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Seattle budget eliminates equity, racial, and social justice programs
PubliCola
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Cycling in Vancouver, BCs suburbs doesn’t have to suck
Spacing Vancouver
Our Mission
Sightline Institute’s mission is to make Cascadia a global model of sustainability— strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
We envision an economy and way of life that are environmentally sound, economically vibrant, and socially just. We believe that if Cascadians succeed at reconciling themselves with the natural heritage of this place—the greenest part of history’s richest civilization—we can set an example for the world.
