NewDEAL’s Democracy Project highlights innovative policy and outstanding leadership at the state and local levels from leaders working to increase civic engagement, promote public service, and make it easier to participate in our democracy. The 2020 election provides hope for the future, with record voter turnout and incredible efforts across the country to ensure access to the ballot box amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the events following that election have reminded us that our democracy remains under threat, both from policy proposals to undermine it and from the effects of deep divisions among the American people. We are committed to providing a forum to share ideas and best practices for overcoming these obstacles and for ensuring continued progress toward a stronger, more inclusive democracy.
Redistricting | August 10, 2021
In the third installment of our Democracy 2021 virtual event series, we heard from expert speakers and NewDEALers around the country about the fight for fair redistricting, the potential impact of redistricting on the voting power of minority communities, and how the process is going in key battleground states. Speakers included Kelly Ward Burton, President of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee; Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio; and NewDEAL Leaders Florida State Senator Loranne Ausley, Pennsylvania State Representative Jordan Harris, Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni, Michigan State Representative Mari Manoogian, and Colorado State Representative Dylan Roberts.
Ranked Choice Voting | June 29, 2021
In our second entry to the Democracy 2021 Series, we heard from NewDEAL Leader and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Co-Director of Democracy Rising Maria Perez, and President and CEO of FairVote Rob Richie to reflect on how ranked-choice voting has performed in New York and elsewhere, and the reasons for the momentum behind voting reforms.
Voting Rights in the States | March 23, 2021
In our first Voting Rights Forum, we heard from Myrna Pérez, Director of the Brennan Center’s Voting Rights and Elections Program, and NewDEAL Leaders and Alumni on the frontlines dealing with Republican efforts to make voting harder in their states, including Georgia State Senator Jen Jordan, Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran, and former Maricopa County, AZ Recorder Adrian Fontes.
