Defend Our Democracy

From partisan gerrymandering and the unfettered influence of big money in politics to attempts to suppress the vote and the radical events of January 6th – our democracy is in serious peril. Democracy is not a given; it’s a dynamic process that requires constant vigilance and respect. In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in attacks on our democratic institutions and the values we hold as a nation. These attacks threaten to erode the very foundations of our Constitutional republic, but we must not give in to despair. Instead, we must stand up and defend our democracy – using our voices and our votes to protect the principles that make America great.

Even the strongest of nations aren’t immune to the erosion of their democracies. Amid class divisions and unresponsive institutions, our system breeds anger, fear, and vitriol. When forced into frustration, everyday citizens look towards authoritarian demagogues – who masquerade as saviors of the working man – pushing extremist ideas like radical culture wars or scapegoating immigrants to find answers to our shared problems.

To cure the sickness of fascism, we must speak out against those who seek to divide and degenerate us. We must be a bulwark against the toxicity of hatred and intolerance. We must reject false narratives and put truth over lies. We must work to drive civic engagement, participation, and education. We must uphold the values of democracy in every tenet of our lives from elections to economics. We must craft an economy, a democracy, and a future built for all. Let’s pledge to defend democracy with all our might to ensure that America’s next generation can also enjoy the same democratic freedoms guaranteed to those that came before.

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Guarantee Voting Rights

The most fundamental right in a democracy is the right to vote. White or black, male or female, rich or poor, old or young: we are all equal at the ballot box. Somewhere inside all of us, is the power to change the world. Yet, in recent years, we have seen a concerted effort to suppress the votes of all Americans.

Guaranteeing voting rights isn’t just about expanding access to the ballot box, but also about creating a society that is more just and democratic. The more people who participate in our democratic process, the more our leaders are held accountable and more representative of the true will of the American people. We must ensure that we build a democracy where every voice is heard, and every vote counts. That means:

Making Election Day a national holiday (moving Election Day from Tuesday to Saturday).
Automatic voter registration for every American over 18.
Lowering the voting age for local elections to 16.
Universal access to mail-in ballots.
Expanding early voting.
Restoring the voting rights of 6 million former felons who have already fully served their time.
Increasing polling places on Native American reservations.
Electing non-voting Congressional Delegates for overseas American territories.
Allowing same-day voter registration.
Ensuring a nonpartisan and fully resourced election administration to prevent unfair partisan skewing of our elections.
Ending partisan gerrymandering by enacting non-partisan redistricting commissions like that of Nebraska and Iowa.
Repairing & restoring the Voting Rights Act.