Citizen-Led State Democracy Reforms are Key to Revitalizing Our Democracy
Walking to Fix Our Democracy wishes to express our outrage at the political violence targeting former President Trump. As frustrated as you may be with our broken democracy, violence is NEVER the answer.
Recently, some national and state leaders have used rhetoric which ignores their duty to uphold the founding principles of the Constitution to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility.” Instead they divide, vilify and inflame to gain partisan advantage. That rhetoric has now had grave consequences, and it must compel our elected leaders to uphold the rule of law, as they are sworn to do.
In last week’s email, I promised an overview of what states are doing to advance democracy reforms which make elections more
competive, enable more candidates to run, and to reduce extremism in our elections. These changes pressure elected representatives to be more citizen-focused than agenda and donor-focused.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:
Imagine a presidential contest with only one issue in play – Gun Rights vs Responsibilities.
Polls show that approximately 60% of all Americans believe we have a 2nd amendment right to own a weapon, but it comes with responsibilities!
We elect representatives to fairly and impartially protect the exercise of our right while reasonably constraining those who keep and use their weapon(s) irresponsibly.
Yet, despite mass shootings such as happened at former President Trump’s rally, it seems impossible to get get a majority of our representatives to do their job to promote our general welfare on this issue. This directly relates to the ways our primary and general elections operate, and states enact most of the election laws that governs this.
Imagine you are a U.S. Senator. You don’t qualify to advance to the general election unless you win in the primary where only tiny percentages of all eligible voters participate.
Of all eligible voters across all 50 states, only about 10-15% of all voters participate in the Republican primaries and it’s also about 10-15% in the Democratic primaries. In this simplified example, a candidate doesn’t get to the general election unless they receive the vote of substantial numbers of those that make up these tiny percentages regarding guns and responsibilities. And those who participate are often those who hold the strongest views.
This divides us. It results in more extreme candidates. It encourages candidates to please the views of these relatively small number of total voters to get to the general election where 60% have a more moderate view, and an expectation that those tthey electt willl do their job to enact substantive policy and law on this issue.
Only a tiny minority of voters is picking the candidates that 100% of registered voters must choose among in the general election.
Changing the primary process to list all candidates on a single ballot that from which all primary voters select, completely reverses candidate incentives. Now, if a candidate pleases the views of the 10% instead of the 60%, the candidate will seldom even get to the general election.
Similarly, if getting elected requires obtaining a majority of all votes in the general election rather than an often smaller plurality as in most states today, it similarly encourages winning candidates to speak to the views of the majority of voters. This brings candidates back toward the majority on issues.
Here is a list of the states where voters, given the opportunity, are beginning to choose the improvements discussed above.
Already in Force in the following states:
Alaska – Top 4 Primary with RCV – Since 2022. All candidates are on a single ballot. Top 4 advance. All general elections will be conducted by Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).
California – Top 2 Primary – Since 2011. All candidates for voter-nominated offices are listed on one ballot and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference – move on to the general election.
Washington – Top 2 Primary – Since 2008. Allows voters to choose among all candidates running for each office. Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote in the primary.
Nebraska -Top 2 Primary – Utilized only for state legislative elections. Because Nebraska’s state legislature is nonpartisan, partisan labels are not used on either primary or general election ballots
Maine – Ranked-Choice Voting. – Will be used in the 2024 Presidential Primary, State Primary and General elections.
State up for voter approval in 2024:
Nevada – Top 5 with RCV. Voters first passed the Yes on 3 amendment in 2022 an amendment to Nevada’s constitution, and per the Nevada constitution must pass it again this year. If approved, it will establish open top-five primaries and ranked-choice voting for general elections, which would apply to congressional, gubernatorial, state executive official, and state legislative elections.
Unsurprisingly, there is opposition from BOTH the Democratic & GOP establishment.
Montana – Top 4 + majority (50%+) winner in general election. If passed, it amends the Montana Constitution to provide a top-four primary election. All candidates, regardless of political party, appear on one ballot. The four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. It requires the winning candidate to amass a majority of the total votes, or 50%
Montanans for Election Reform are off and running and on track to submit the needed signatures to get a top-four election model approved by voters in November.
Idaho – Top 4 with RCV. If passed, the Idahoans for Open Primaries initiative will end Idaho’s closed primary elections and create a non-partisan primary system, open to all voters regardless of party affiliation. The top four candidates will advance to the general election.
In the general election, voters will have the freedom to pick their top candidate and also to rank additional candidates in order of preference
Colorado -Top 4 with RCV. This Ranked Choice Voting for Colorado initiative would establish a top-four open primary system and ranked-choice voting for state executive, state legislative, and congressional offices.
If approved, it will give Colorado voters the opportunity to vote for a majority winner, all-voter election model in November. Sadly, an 11th hour move from a Democratic incumbent (who won her election with only 8% of the vote) will create procedural hurdles for implementation.
Arizona – Open Primaries. If approved by voters, this initiative will: Part One – create a nonpartisan first round election so all voters and all candidates are on equal footing and voters can choose from among all the candidates. Part Two – Have an open presidential primary that would allow all citizens to cast a ballot.
South Dakota – Top 2 Open Primary. If approved, this initiative would create a top-two open, nonpartisan primary election ballot. Sadly, last year the legislature passed legislation prohibiting Ranked Choice Voting.
District of Columbia – Open Primaries + RCV – A group of good government reformers has filed initial paperwork with the D.C. Board of Elections to put a referendum on the ballot next year that would open up primaries to independent voters and institute ranked-choice voting.
Don’t despair. While the SCOTUS Presidential powers decision and erosion of the Voting Rights Act are bleak, citizens are starting to push back and implement the reforms necessary to control their government – by and for the people. Will you be one of those citizens to step up and work to our preserve democracy? Your country and your democracy need you.
Rick
Rick Hubbard
walking daily to “bank” miles to use in a wide variety of contingencies: #1 – When the route to my next destination is via an interstate where I’m not allowed to walk and there is no nearby parallel road. #2 – In the event of bad weather and I can’t get in my 50 miles per week; or #3 – In the event of a major issue with the RV, the tow-car, or me!
After our Lincoln, Nebraska parade and event on May 29th, I continued across Nebraska, and I can truly say that the corn is way taller than “knee high on the Forth of July!” 
While walking, I try to be productive by listening to public radio, podcasts and audio books related to the state of our democracy and how to improve/fix it, among other things.
