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Voting & Fair Representation: Protecting Your Voice

We all deserve a say in choosing leaders who will fight for us in the halls of power. The right to vote must be secure, fair, and open to all.

Our votes are how we decide the future for our families, our communities, and our country. But too often, politicians pass unfair voting rules that drown out the voices of everyday people or rig legislative maps so we don’t get a real choice.

That’s why Common Cause protects your voice at the ballot box, in Congress, in state legislatures, in the courts, and beyond.

We have passed hundreds of commonsense solutions that give every American a say in our future – including vote-by-mail, online voter registration, early voting, and independent redistricting – and blocked voter suppression policies like strict voter ID and purges of registered voters.

What We’re Doing

Independent Redistricting Commission

Legislation

Independent Redistricting Commission

An Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) would center everyday Minnesotans in the process of drawing our voting maps by including our voices in the drawing process from start to finish. Right now our redistricting process is supposed to get done through the legislative process. Unfortunately, our legislators haven’t been able to put us first and have instead kicked the can on drawing our maps to the courts. Our IRC reform requires an even number of Republicans, Democrats, and Independent Minnesotans, not politicians, political hacks, or special interests, working together as a commission to draw maps that work for Minnesota’s communities. The redistricting principles center people, not politicians.
Expanding the Minnesota Voting Rights Act

Legislation

Expanding the Minnesota Voting Rights Act

In 2024, Minnesota legislators enacted a state Voting Rights Act (MVRA), and we need to ensure that Minnesota voters can leverage the rights afforded in this legislation! We must amend the MVRA to require the collection of data regarding instances of voting rights violations and election process deviations in a centralized and secure manner and give voters access to that data so they can determine if there’s been a voting rights violation and allow for remediation. Let's make this awesome legislation even better!
Cooling Off Period for Lobbyists

Legislation

Cooling Off Period for Lobbyists

It's common for legislators to become lobbyists immediately following their time in office. This creates significant ethical challenges and can result in a severely uneven playing field for grassroots organizations and individual activists attempting to influence policies. Requiring former legislators to "cool off" before they return to lobby their former colleagues stops the revolving door and levels the playing field.

Take Action

Take Action

Tell Us Why Vote-By-Mail Matters to You

form

Tell Us Why Vote-By-Mail Matters to You

Vote-by-mail is essential for millions of Americans who might not otherwise be able to participate in our democracy. As threats to mail voting continue nationwide, we’re gathering real stories from voters who depend on it and the barriers they may face trying to vote in person. Your answers will help us understand how vote-by-mail supports your ability to participate — and what challenges you would face without it. A member of our team may contact...
Submit Public Input: Speak out against Trump’s secret voter-purge system >>

Letter Campaign

Submit Public Input: Speak out against Trump’s secret voter-purge system >>

Trump’s administration is quietly building a massive, unsecured data system of voters’ personal information – possibly even yours. They did it in secret, broke transparency rules, and hoped no one would ever find out. It’s a surveillance dragnet straight out of the DOGE playbook: pool everyone’s data in one place, use it to target voters, and ultimately pass laws that will make it harder for all of us to cast a ballot. Let’s be clear...
Tell Congress: Don’t let Trump punish voters

Petition

Tell Congress: Don’t let Trump punish voters

Trump has threatened to slash federal dollars that fund hospitals, housing, and schools for New Yorkers because they dared to vote for mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

And we have every reason to believe he’ll follow through. In recent months, he has specifically targeted places that didn’t vote for him last year – canceling billions of dollars for trains, tunnels, and clean energy in blue states, and rejecting disaster aid for blue states.

Our lawmakers must make it clear: no president can cut off funding just because he...

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Updates

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Volunteers Needed for Statewide Nonpartisan Election Program

Article

Volunteers Needed for Statewide Nonpartisan Election Program

Common Cause Minnesota is calling for nonpartisan volunteers to assist voters who may have any trouble casting a ballot in this year’s election, including voting registration, early and absentee mail voting, and any other concerns.

High Scores for Minnesota on Common Cause’s 2024 Democracy Scorecard

High Scores for Minnesota on Common Cause’s 2024 Democracy Scorecard

Common Cause, the nonpartisan watchdog, released its 2024 “Democracy Scorecard," recording every member of Congress’ support for voting rights, Supreme Court ethics, and other reforms.

Related Resources

See all Related Resources

Guide

The SAVE Act Myth vs. Fact

Guide

Explainer: Trump’s Executive Order Attacking Voting Rights

By: Dan Vicuna

Guide

Explainer: Trump Administration’s Proposal to Task USPS with Census Enumeration

The United States Postal Service is a highly trusted, independent agency that provides a critical service to the public. Tasking the USPS with conducting the census will lead to increased costs, overburdened postal workers, and service delays.

Press

Minnesota Civil Rights Groups, Two Minnesota Voters File Motion to Block DOJ from Seizing Voter Data

Press Release

Minnesota Civil Rights Groups, Two Minnesota Voters File Motion to Block DOJ from Seizing Voter Data

The case is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to compel states to turn over their full voter registration databases, including sensitive personal information such as a voter’s full name, data of birth, address, partial social security and driver’s license numbers.

The Public Must Be Involved in Capitol Changes

Press Release

The Public Must Be Involved in Capitol Changes

Conversations about changes to the Capitol campus about security are happening mostly in private. But Minnesotans deserve to be part of a discussion that directly impacts the public

Partisan Behavior Leads to Unacceptable Special Session

Press Release

Partisan Behavior Leads to Unacceptable Special Session

Common Cause Minnesota is criticizing legislators for prioritizing partisan squabbles over the needs of the people, requiring a special session to pass a state budget this year.  

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