The Democracy Initiative A campaign to empower all Americans organized by leading organizations in...
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Transcript of The Democracy Initiative A campaign to empower all Americans organized by leading organizations in...
The Democracy Initiative
A campaign to empower all Americans organized by leading organizations in the civil rights, environmental and labor movements.
Voting rights
Voter Suppression Continues• Since 2011, more than 200 bills were introduced in 41 states to
restrict access to the ballot box.
Rights Restoration, Still Denied • 1 out of every 40 adult citizens - more than 5.83 million Americans -
has been stripped of his or her voting rights due to a prior felony conviction.
• Approximately 2 million of these citizens are African American men. New voices for voting rights• Increased Voices of Allies Fighting for Voting Rights • Money Out, Voters In Day of Action• New Coalition Leads to Change at the State Level
(Delaware, Restoration of Rights)
Work to-date: voting rights
Building for change in key states• Virginia- Echo Chamber for Rights Restorations• Minnesota- Seeding a Coalition Advocating for Voting
Rights• North Carolina- Building a Movement with a Moral Voice
for Democracy and Rights for All • VIDEO NORTH CAROLINA FORWARD TOGETHER• Strategic Communications and Public Education in 2014
and Beyond
Work to-date: Senate rules
2010 –Coalition Launched• Led by Alliance for Justice, Brennan Center, Common
Cause, Communication Workers and Sierra Club2011 – “Gentleman’s Agreement”2012 – Campaign Renewed• New organizations brought in such as AFL-CIO, Demos,
MoveOn, and NAACP• 500,000 activists signed petitions to-date• 60 organizations signed three letters calling for reform
Next phase: Senate rules
2013 Administration Nominees • Stalled appointees for Consumer Finance Protection Board,
EPA, Judicial, National Labor Relations Board, etc.• More than 70 organizations signed letter to end filibuster
abuse in nomination process
2013 – Campaign Success!!! Breaks Logjam on Administration Appointments
Continues to build support for judicial nominations and full rules reform.
Work to-date: NY Fair Elections
Engaged our constituencies• Gov. Cuomo and leadership hosted calls for membership• Collected petition signatures via online and in-person
organizingConnected NY advocates with national expertsCEO engagement• Participation in Fair Election coalition meeting• Direct advocacy with Gov. Cuomo
Work to-date: NY Fair Elections
Outcomes• Raised profile with issue-based organizations• Expanded coalition capacity• Increased media coverage