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Find Your State

America is Resilient.

We are all concerned about keeping our families and loved ones safe, and it’s okay to be worried about COVID-19 because it’s a public health threat unlike any we’ve faced in a long time. 

But we can’t let our fear distract us from the truth about how to fight it: We all have to come together, locally in our community, nationally and even internationally and all do our part to stop its spread, and part of that includes voicing our concerns at the polls.

It is imperative that, as we navigate this crisis, we take measures to flatten the curve of the outbreak, while maintaining the integrity of our electoral system. We don’t have to choose between a vibrant, robust democracy and the protection of public health—we can do both at the same time.

We have outlined how Common Cause is advocating for our democracy at this time, and how you can help. Common Cause is actively working with state governments, and watchdogging how changes will impact voting rights, ethics and transparency, the 2020 Census, broadband access, and evaluating how to make sure no one is disenfranchised by this public health crisis.

Read Common Cause Principles for Government Transparency & Accessibility

At this time when the COVID-19 pandemic challenges our governmental institutions and public bodies in unprecedented ways, our public officials must do everything reasonably possible to maximize transparency and remote public participation, even as we protect public health via social distancing. There is no one way to do this, but key steps include four key principles.


Common Cause's recommendations
in response to COVID-19

Voting & Elections

We ensured our 2020 primaries and general election were held and conducted in a safe, fair, and orderly manner.

Ethics & Accountability

Public officials must adopt measures to protect public health while maximizing transparency and remote public participation and limiting government business to priority functions necessary under the current emergency conditions.

Media & Democracy

Businesses have shifted to telework policies and schools transition to online-only classes for extended periods of time, communities will need robust and affordable broadband access now more than ever.

2020 Census Data & Redistricting

The Census Bureau announced significant operational changes in the wake of COVID-19. Here are the implications of these changes on census, apportionment, redistricting, and elections.

Here’s how you can do your part to protect democracy during this time:

This is a public health and economic crisis that requires our cooperation, as a nation and as a world. That means listening to public health experts and following their recommendations — to ensure the safety of ourselves and our neighbors.

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