Democracy on the Ballot: Big Opportunities in the 2018 Midterms
Across the nation, civic-minded organizations gathered the signatures required to place a wide range of reform initiatives on their states’ 2018 midterm ballots. Already this year, voters in several states passed important reform measures during the primaries. In Ohio’s primary, 75% of voters approved bipartisan congressional redistricting reform. In Maine’s, 54% of voters approved a measure to protect ranked-choice voting. And in Tempe, Arizona, 91% of voters approved a local ordinance to require disclosure of secret election spending.
With the general election upon us, the opportunities for change are even greater. On November 6th, voters in 20 states will vote on important ballot measures that will make dramatic improvements to how our representative democracy functions: ending gerrymandering with nonpartisan redistricting systems, improved ballot access, automatic and same-day voter registration, money in politics reforms, lobbying and ethics reform, and more.
Many of these ballot initiatives align with Business for America’s agenda to strengthen democracy, ensure election integrity, and modernize government. Over time, these improvements will result in better-functioning government, which is good for our country’s business climate and economic outlook — as well as good for all Americans.
Want to know more or get involved? Please join our post-election day webinar Democracy on the Ballot: The Impact of the 2018 Midterms on November 14th at 4:30pm ET to review the election results and discuss what they indicate for political reform at the federal, state, and local level in the new year. Register Now »
Here’s a quick overview of some of the 2018 ballot initiatives that we endorse.
ELECTIONS & VOTING
- Florida • Amendment 4: Voting Rights Restoration for Former Felons
- Maryland • Question 2: Election Day Voter Registration
- Michigan • Proposal 3: Promote the Vote Initiative
- Nevada • Question 5: Automatic Voter Registration
REDISTRICTING
- Colorado • Amendment Y & Amendment Z: Fair Maps Colorado
- Long Beach, California • Measure DDD: Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
- Michigan • Proposal 2: Voters Not Politicians Initiative
- Santa Barbara, California • Measure G & Measure H: Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
- Utah • Proposition 4: Better Boundaries Initiative
MONEY IN POLITICS
- Baltimore, Maryland • Question H: Fair Election Fund
- Denver, Colorado • Question 2E: Democracy for the People Initiative
- Massachusetts • Question 2: People Govern, Not Money Initiative
- New York City • Question 1: Strengthening Public Financing
- Phoenix, Arizona • Ordinance S-44549: Election Funding Disclosure
ETHICS, LOBBYING & ACCOUNTABILITY
- Florida • Amendment 12: Lobbying Restrictions
- Long Beach, California • Measure CCC: Ethics Commission
- Missouri • Amendment 1: Clean Missouri Initiative
- New Mexico • Amendment 2: Statewide Ethics Commission
- North Dakota • Measure 1: Anti-Corruption
- South Dakota • Amendment W: Anti-Corruption
Business for America is catalyzing the business community to help strengthen our representative democracy. Ready to be part of the solution?Get in touch and find out how you can help.
