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Our highlighted issues, actions, and events in the democracy movement this week—Please share widely.
DEMOCRACY WINS!
(But the fight is not over!)
15 BALLOT INITIATIVES SHOW THAT DEMOCRACY UNIFIES
The overwhelming success of the ballot measures in Democracy Initiative’s priority states is only part of a greater win for democracy on November 6. In California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, and more, voters rallied to pass democracy measures that expanded access to the ballot, drew fairer and independent voting maps, and strengthened money-in-politics and ethics regulations. Despite the dangerous rhetoric, voter suppression, and untold amounts of dark money flowing into elections, everyday American people voted and fought back (read the DI statement here).
One of the most important outcomes of the midterm election is that state and local ballot initiatives as a vehicle for democracy reform is gaining national attention as a movement. As Common Cause President and DI Board Co-Chair Karen Hobert Flynn attests:
"It is clear when you put democracy reforms on the ballot, those measures win overwhelmingly."
And thanks to the Democracy Initiative's diverse coalition of issue groups representing the interests of everyday Americans, and the mobilization of thousands of partner organization members, all six of the DI Priority Ballot Measures passed.
Our draconian electoral system was put on display for all to see. We now have a critical opportunity in front of us to transform our democracy. The powerful gains we made this election serve now as the foundation upon which we’ll continue the fight for an inclusive, 21st century democracy. The first step to seizing our opportunity is happening at the Strategy Session at the Democracy Initiative's 2018 Annual Meeting
JOIN US AT THE DI ANNUAL MEETING 2018
Sign up and join the 60 people who have already reserved their places—spots are filling up! Don't miss the chance to participate in the DI Strategy Session, where principals and members of our diverse coalition of 69 organizations set the course for victory in 2019 and 2020.
Reflecting on this past year, and especially on the midterm elections, the DI is proud and inspired by our partners' and allies' commitment to a stronger, more inclusive democracy. At our Annual Meeting, we are honoring Democracy Champions who mobilized their members and organized several of these hard-won fights:
- The AFL-CIO's exciting defeat of the "Right to Work" referendum in Missouri,
- The two exceptional pro-democracy ballot initiative campaigns in Michigan: Promote the Vote and Voters Not Politicians, and
- The Arab American Institute's extraordinary commitment to democracy with their contributions to election protection and mobilizing the Arab American community.
TAKE ACTION: #USMAILNOTFORSALE
Have you heard about the White House’s plan to sell off the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)? Sounds crazy, right? But it’s true.
A corporate post office would be bad for all of us. It could mean you don’t get your mail every day—maybe only every third day—even for critical deliveries like medicine or other packages. You could pay a lot more, too, especially for mail coming to or from rural areas. Universal delivery to every address in the country? Likely gone.
There’s a new video that lays out the stakes—will you watch and share with your friends? Help us tell the White House that the U.S. Mail is Not For Sale!
#USMAILNOTFORSALE
DEMOCRACY IN THE NEWS
MOBILIZATION & COLLABORATION
Job Posting: DC Fair Elections Program Manager
The District of Columbia is hiring a Program Manager for the launch of the DC Fair Elections Small Donor Public Financing Program with the DC Office of Campaign Finance.
The DC Office of Campaign Finance hopes that an energetic, committed person applies who is passionate about getting big money out of politics, racial equity and empowering voters and small donors.
Application link here.