Report
California Municipal Democracy Index
Many election laws and campaign practices are shaped at the local level, including how people vote for their city officials and the campaign contribution limits for those offices. California Common Cause completed a major study of these practices for all 482 cites in California.
California Common Cause’s 2016 Municipal Democracy Index (MDI) offers a comprehensive look at how democracy functions at the municipal level across the state.
It explores city government structures, voting systems, and campaign finance rules, and how these affect representation and accountability. The report serves as both a snapshot and a predictive tool, providing valuable data and insights for policymakers and reform advocates.
Like laboratories of democracy, California’s cities serve as testing grounds for democratic innovation, and the MDI aims to inform and inspire continued improvements in local governance.
