Peter —

With the U.S.-hosted international Summit for Democracy taking place this week, it’s a fitting time to assess the state of our own democracy. Our take? It could use some work. Here are two metrics that spell it out pretty clearly:

• There are more than a half million elected positions in this country. Around 70% are uncontested. (BallotReady)
• In 2020, despite historically high voter turnout, only 10% of eligible American voters nationwide cast ballots in the primary elections that effectively decided the winners of 83% of Congressional seats. (Unite America)

Voting is the predominant way we participate in democracy as Americans. So why do our votes count for so little?

It’s not hard to figure out. Gerrymandered districts where candidates from other parties don’t have a fighting chance means there’s no point in running at all. And for those who do run, closed primaries that keep unaffiliated voters out means the most extreme candidates will win—every. single. time.

Some democracy.

All is not lost. Forwardists across the country, state by state, are working feverishly to right these wrongs. But we need all the help we can get. Two disappointments over the past week show that we have our work cut out for us.

• South Dakota: Gov. Kristi Noem signed 12 election-related bills last Wednesday—among them a statewide ban on ranked-choice voting.
• Connecticut: Despite an endorsement from Gov. Ned Lamont, legislative proposals to explore or implement ranked-choice voting options failed in committee yesterday and will not advance this year.

Needless to say, these are not the results we hoped for. But, as the Forward Party of Connecticut expressed so perfectly, “Rest assured, this only hardens the resolve of the Forward Party in Connecticut. Towns and cities across the state will be hearing a lot from us in the coming months and years.”

Exactly. We know the journey won’t always be easy. But setbacks only make us that much more determined to keep moving Forward for the sake of American democracy.

• Biden: World ‘turning the tide’ after backslide on democracy —AP News
• U.S. vows funds, tech alliance as democracy summit takes on backsliding —EURACTIV
• Lawrence Norden & Derek Tisler: How to protect American democracy —Foreign Affairs
• David Romtvedt: Strengthening democracy through ranked-choice voting —Casper Star Tribune

OTHER NEWS & VIEWS

What does the data show? RCV works
“[S]tates with Top 2, Top 4 ranked-choice voting (RCV), or statewide RCV were three times less likely to have an election denier win in the 2022 general election compared to states without these reforms in use. Even more encouraging, we found widespread support for these reforms, as nearly 6 in 10 voters nationwide said they would support a reform similar to Top 4 in Alaska in their state. The alarm must not silence in the wake of high-profile election deniers losing this past election cycle, because as the data shows, this is likely just the beginning. The democracy community must band together to disrupt the potential side effects of election denial in the campaign process and support reforms that enable moderation and competition.” —Mindy Finn in The Fulcrum

More ranked-choice voting news:

• Ranked-choice voting repeal up for committee vote this week —Spectrum News
• Henry Rowland: Ranked-choice voting can help heal the civil-military divide —CT Mirror

SCOTUS declines to hear gerrymandering case
“The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined a request from voters in Kansas to review a state court decision they say allows for racial gerrymandering of congressional districts there. In a controversial decision last year, the Kansas Supreme Court upheld a Republican-drawn map that had been blocked by a lower court over partisan gerrymandering and the dilution of minority voting strength. The new congressional map split Wyandotte County—home to Kansas City—into two congressional districts for the first time in several decades. The court’s decision to not hear the case means that the newly redrawn map will remain in play.” —CNN

More gerrymandering news:

• A high-stakes election in the Midwest’s “Democracy Desert” —The New Yorker

Political parties should defend democracy, not tear it down
“Political parties in a multiparty system, operating under free and fair elections, are the backbone of democracy. They are institutions where like-minded individuals come together to elect political candidates. When they work best, political parties are the connective tissue between voters and political leaders, strengthening the voice of the one into many in order to make a change and drive policy. Fully democratic and functioning political parties are a fundamental organizing component in every successful democracy.” —Birgitta Ohlsson in The Hill

Building a new political party that boldly defends and innovates democracy is hard work—especially when well-funded, well-connected parties don’t want you to succeed. But all of us at Forward consider it one of the most important things we’ve ever done. Our democracy needs us. We’re in it for the long haul.

All the best,
The Forward Party Team

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