Panel Event: Putting the Public Back in Policy

This panel, co-hosted by the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy Alumni Association and ProRep Coalition, will explore how structural reforms to California’s electoral system could strengthen democratic representation and policymaking. In particular, the conversation will focus on state-level proportional representation (PR) — a system used by most advanced democracies worldwide — and how it could expand political competition, diversify representation, and better reflect the full spectrum of voter preferences.

The panel will also examine the role of deliberative democracy in shaping reform. Rather than top-down institutional change, emerging models emphasize large-scale public engagement — such as citizens’ assemblies and deliberative polling — to help communities learn about reform options and participate directly in designing them.

To sign up to attend, click here.