Broad Coalition of National Election Reform Groups Unite to Challenge Two-Party Duopoly

To focus the combined Strengths, Skills, and Experience of some of the Nation’s Leading Election Reform organizations toward increasing Voter Participation and Electoral Competition, a prominent group of Nonpartisan Political Reform Leaders have formed the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers (NANR). Jim Jonas is a Veteran Independent Political Consultant and the Interim Executive Director for the NANR. Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter, Co-Authors of the widely praised Research Study, Why Competition in the Politics Industry is Failing America published by the Harvard Business School, will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs. The Group will be headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Founding Members include Representatives from the Bridge Alliance, Independent Voter Project, the Chamberlain Project, FairVote Action, Open Primaries, the Centrist Project, California Forward, and Let Colorado Vote.

Association Members will share Information and Resources and validate a credible, growing Network of experienced Reform Organizations, Attorneys, Political and Communication Advisors, Vendors, Academics, and others capable of challenging entrenched Partisan Power centers in the Media, in the Courts, and at the Ballot Box. The Association can also bring National attention, Financial support, and Media focus to Local, State, and National Projects and Campaigns that can best serve Nonpartisan Reform.

On some issues, Association Members embrace competing but complementary views about specific Reforms, but all share the common ideal that Elections should serve Voters first, regardless of their Party Affiliation or Non-Affiliation.

NANR’s success will empower Voters of every stripe, improve Legislative Representation and Electoral Competition, and demand Internal Reforms by the traditional Political Parties to make them more responsive to their own Members.

Association Members have led successful Election Reforms in multiple States including Open Primaries in Colorado, Nonpartisan Primaries, Independent Redistricting in California, and Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in Maine.

Reformers argue that the endless loop of bickering and finger-pointing that has pushed our Governing system to Dysfunction is accommodated by outdated Election Rules controlled by the two Major Parties which are joined at the hip in Courtrooms and Statehouses where Partisan Lawyers and Political Operatives systematically work to restrict Voter Choice and Participation.

Institutional Political Barriers including Closed Primaries, Partisan Gerrymandering, a contrived “two-sided” Media, and Party-friendly Campaign Finance Rules are just the tip of the Institutional iceberg that props up the failing Duopoly and diminishes the Rights of Individual Voters in the Election Process.

At the core of the Dysfunction is an embedded Network of Political Operatives and Lawyers dedicated to preserving the Control of Elections by Two Powerful Private Political Corporations, the Republican and Democratic Parties.

The Association believes the remedy to the system’s current Political Dysfunction is to unwind the Institutionalized advantages that prevent Individual Voters from fully participating in Election outcomes.

The NANR's success will empower Voters of every stripe, improve Legislative Representation and Electoral Competition, and demand Internal Reforms by the traditional Political Parties to make them more responsive to their Own Members.

CLICK HERE for more information about the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

The New York City Independence Party Political Reform Package

Today the New York City Independence Party released its comprehensive political reform package, "The Antidote to Corruption is Democracy", to the press which included the statement:

"Over the last few weeks, it has become evident that such reform is desperately needed. The current political scandals expose structural weaknesses in the system that need to be addressed, but not in ways that entrench the powerful and preclude a more nonpartisan process."

The package contains the following sections:

1) Nonpartisan Elections and Fusion
2) Initiative and Referendum
3) Term Limits for State Legislators
4) Voter Mobility
5) Nonpartisan Administration of Elections
6) Campaign Finance Reform
7) Nonpartisan Redistricting Reform
8) Full Public Hearings on all Reform

CLICK HERE to read their package of reforms to address the remedial proposals offered by the Governor and others since the recent wave of New York scandals became public.

As an independent activist, I strongly agree with nonpartisan municipal elections, open primaries, and ballot access for candidates and voters alike.

Let’s use this moment of scandal and dysfunction to do something revolutionary with our political system. Let’s make it inclusive, nonpartisan and truly competitive.

After reading the reform package, let me know what you think we need to reform our political process.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

Whose Open Primary Do You Want?

When we talk about Open Primaries, I am sure it has a different meaning to each of us. Here is samples of the difference I am talking about:

Independent voters will be able to request either a Democratic or Republican ballot for Charleston city primary on March 8. But until late last week, city voting rules for independents were anything but clear. After reading state code and checking with the state's two main political parties, City Attorney Paul Ellis said Thursday that independent voters will -- for the first time -- be able to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. So if I want to vote as an independent I can only select one or the other major parties candidates that were preselected for me. But there are candidates from each party and some from minor parties, independents, and write-ins I could vote for. I am in a box not of my choosing.

Then there is the truly Open Primary where all candidates are on one ballot and I as a voter can decide which candidates meet my criteria to warrant my selecting them. I would then want to use Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) to allow me to select as my first selection a favorite son or daughter, vanity candidate, or write-in, but still be able to select viable candidates on my other selections. This would then result in the top two selected candidates to go to the General Election. The winner should then have been selected with all the voters taking part in the political process.

To make this really work, we need to restructure the ballot access laws to allow anyone who wants to be a candidate the opportunity to give the voters their chance to use their voice to pick candidates that appeal to their ideas. This could take the form of reducing the number of signatures needed and/or reducing any filing fee to get on the ballot.

Without these changes working together, we will not change the political status quo.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

NYC Charter Revision Commission Non Partisan Election Meeting

Again, thanks to The Hankster for this post.

NYC Charter Revision issue forum at Lehman College in the Bronx June 2, 2010, featured an expert panel on the topic of voter participation, including NYC Independence Party attorney Harry Kresky. Kresky spoke about the American tradition of expanding democracy as a civil rights issue. Independents are disenfranchised in the crucial first round of voting in New York City.



I attend the meeting and was impressed by the expert witnesses thoughts using the forum's "Increase Voter Participation" subject to think out of the box on solutions.



Some solutions are:

1. Same Day registration.
2. Absentee Ballot for all.
3. Early Voting.
4. June Primary to address the new 45 day time frame for absentee ballot delivery and return before vote counting. The current September dates would violate the new law.
5. Weekend Voting.
6. Open voting to non-citizens who pay taxes, certain felons.
7. Stronger enforcement of Public Service Voter Registration.
8. Remove the ability for the City Council to override Ballot Measures approved by the voters.
9. Instant Runoff Voting.
10. Internet Voting.
11. Term Limits.
12. Non Partisan Municipal Elections.



Use the above link to read an article by Jarrett Murphy, of City Limits about the meeting.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us