US News & World Report: State and Local Citizen Initiatives Put Democracy on the Ballot

11.2.2018 / By Susan Milligan
US News & World Report: State and Local Citizen Initiatives Put Democracy on the Ballot

"I think we're a seeing a groundswell of public interest in government, including how campaigns are funded, even how we draw our (legislative and congressional district) lines," says Elena Nunez, director of state operations and ballot measure strategies for Common Cause and one of the authors of the report. "I think that some of it is a reaction to the hyper-polarization" in the country now, Nunez adds. "People are paying attention to not just the game, but the rules of the game. We are seeing a shift, and some great opportunities to increase participation and give some voice to the people," Nunez says. "People are coming together to say there's a better way to do this."

IT STARTED WITH A coffee klatch and two North Dakota women who proudly accept the moniker of the “badass grandmas.” And now, their hopes of thwarting corruption and conflicts of interest in state government are on their way to becoming reality, with a state ballot initiative up for a vote Tuesday that would ban lobbyist gifts to legislators, close the “revolving door” between the lobbying and lawmaking arenas and create a state ethics commission to enforce it all. …

The ballot initiative is among two dozen in states and localities across the nation aimed at reforming or protecting the nation’s democracy, according to a detailed assessment by the good government group Common Cause. Some tighten ethics rules or attempt to control money in politics, others would put redistricting in the hands of a non-partisan commission. Others still would expand the ability of people to register or vote. But all stem from a common goal, analysts say – to give citizens more power in elections and over the behavior of the people they elect to office.

“I think we’re a seeing a groundswell of public interest in government, including how campaigns are funded, even how we draw our (legislative and congressional district) lines,” says Elena Nunez, director of state operations and ballot measure strategies for Common Cause and one of the authors of the report. “I think that some of it is a reaction to the hyper-polarization” in the country now, Nunez adds. “People are paying attention to not just the game, but the rules of the game.” …

In Florida, a ballot initiative would grant voter rights to convicted felons, a measure that would expand the potential voter pool by 1.4 million, according to Common Cause. Coloradoans will consider Amendment 5, which would lower the minimum age to serve in the state legislature from 25 to 21. Proponents argue the change would make for a legislature more reflective of the community at large.

Arkansas, meanwhile, has a voter ID initiative on the ballot, while North Carolina voters will consider a constitutional amendment to require an ID to vote. Common Cause has opposed those measures, which go against the national trend of elections-related ballot initiatives.

“We are seeing a shift, and some great opportunities to increase participation and give some voice to the people,” Nunez says. “People are coming together to say there’s a better way to do this.”

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