News Clips

While Citizens United amplified the megaphones of the very wealthy, fortunately it cannot stifle the voices of everyday people calling for a more transparent and ethical system in Delaware.

"We at Common Cause are very interested in having as many people as possible participate in our elections, our government, to run for office, and be part of the process," said Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause Connecticut.

The public must have a chance to provide input both before and after the maps are drawn. Before lawmakers put pen to paper, they should listen to community stakeholders about what issues are most important to them and how legislative districts are relevant to their everyday lives.

Lawmakers appeared pleased with the selection, although some advocates have argued for paper ballots instead. During the Department of Elections’ budget hearing, Jennifer Hill, a lobbyist for the good government group Common Cause Delaware, objected to the purchase, noting the department has asked for another $5 million over the next four years for the machines. However, Ms. Manlove disputed the claim that the price tag is much bigger than anticipated, saying the costs for maintenance and the software license should only total about $100,000 a year more than the state currently pays.

Common Cause of Delaware wants Delawareans to weigh in on the state's purchase of new voting booths, urging citizens to call for a system that can't be hacked. “Common Cause Delaware asked for the bids to be shared with the public soon after they were received by the Department of Elections in January,” said Jennifer Hill, program director for Common Cause Delaware. “This is a historic civic event in our state as we have not had a new system since 1996, and it was 50 years ago when the old lever system was purchased.”