Unite America’s Post

It's time to embrace new ideas like semi-open primaries that make our elections more inclusive and representative of all voters. Every voice deserves to be heard, and closed elections only hold back progress in our democracy. Let's cheer on those New Mexico residents who are fighting for change! We hope they are successful in joining the 38 states that already allow more inclusive primary elections. If you live in New Mexico and want to learn more about this topic and ways to participate, the Las Cruces Sun-News listed NM Voters First as a resource. Do you live in a state with inclusive primaries? If so, what do you think about it? If not, do you think your state could benefit from it?

Check out my op-ed in the Daily News about why NYC elections need to be aligned with state and federal elections, a recommendation of the New York City Campaign Finance Board. NYC has stellar voter registration at 82%, but dismal voter participation--7.2% in last year's primary, and 12.8%. Combining NYC elections with state and federal candidates would dramatically increase voter participation in city elections, and would save taxpayers the $60 million it costs to administer NYC-only elections in every odd-numbered-year. A democracy is only as good as the people who make it. New York has the roadmap to building a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Let's get moving! https://lnkd.in/eg8sji74

How does Alaska's ranked-choice voting system of elections affect turnout? "In 2020, Alaskans approved a ballot initiative to implement a single nonpartisan primary and instant runoff system of elections. After two election cycles with the system in place, voters narrowly opted to maintain it in 2024. This unique approach is meant to foster more meaningful elections, reward civility, and elevate candidates with the broadest appeal. While increasing turnout might not be an explicit objective of these types of reforms, their effect on participation is nonetheless relevant to assessing their outcomes. Opponents often point to voter confusion as an argument for maintaining plurality elections, but reviewing Alaska’s young experiment reveals a largely negligible impact on turnout—proving that voters are not intimidated by instant runoff elections." #Alaska #2024Election #RankedChoiceVoting #RCV #democracy #elections #politics

Local democracy shapes our day-to-day lives in NYC. But, despite 82% of eligible voters being registered, very few New Yorkers vote in local elections. By aligning local elections with state and federal elections (which consistently see higher turnout), we can: ✓ Increase participation in local races that influence the issues New Yorkers care most about ✓ Increase representation among those who show up, including younger voters and voters of color ✓ Reduce the influence of special interests, whose independent expenditures have more power to sway low-turnout elections ✓ Save the $60 million in taxpayer dollars it costs to administer low-participation primary and general elections New York has the roadmap to building a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Let's get moving. https://lnkd.in/eDmXknMj

Our research fellow, Gabriel Kraemer, published an insightful brief on the Primary Reform debate in U.S elections. With growing discussions around electoral reforms, it's crucial to understand how proposed changes to primaries could reshape democratic processes, voter participation, and even candidate diversity. These reforms are about more than just the mechanics of elections—they impact the very core of how representative our government can be. Curious about how primary reform could affect your vote and the future of American elections? Learn more about the debate and the implications for democracy here: https://lnkd.in/gsubH3de.

Want to see real change in our elections? The Freedom to Vote Act can pave the way by streamlining voter registration and expanding access. When more people vote, our democracy grows stronger. https://lnkd.in/evdjAWYj

In ranked choice voting elections, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the first-preference votes, they are declared the winner. If no candidate reaches that threshold, candidates with the fewest first-preference supporters are eliminated, and their voters’ second choices are added to the tally. The process continues until one candidate exceeds 50% of the total vote.

Delving into the power of the youth vote in shaping Mexico's 2024 elections. This Wilson Center infographic highlights key trends and potential impacts.

We love to think of ourselves as a small nation that punches above its weight, but when it comes to local elections, we’re lagging behind. In 2022, only 40% of Kiwis voted in local elections. Now, compare that to countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland, where voter turnout for local elections regularly hits 60-70%. So why are so many Kiwis sitting on the sidelines when it comes to local elections? The Electoral Reform Working Group has uncovered some important factors. One major issue is the lack of accessible information about candidates and their policies. In many cases, voters don’t feel they know enough about who’s standing to make an informed decision. Voters often feel like they’re on a blind date without a profile pic—it’s hard to choose wisely when you can’t see who’s in the running. Another challenge is the way local elections are promoted. The responsibility—and the cost—currently falls on individual councils. This is in stark contrast to national elections, which benefit from a large-scale, coordinated campaign run by the Electoral Commission (hi orange man). Central government elections get widespread, consistent messaging, while local elections get less fanfare than a one-man band in a corner pub. If we want to increase local voter turnout, it’s clear we need to tackle these issues. Voters need better access to information, more opportunities to engage with candidates, and a more visible, well-funded campaign to raise awareness about the importance of local elections. After all, the decisions made by councils affect everything from the water we drink to the parks our kids play in—shouldn’t we all have a say in that? Head to https://lnkd.in/g3SAAkUc for more info.