There was great progress on democracy renovation this month. The Council of State Governments hosted a discussion with Steven Olikara and Norman Ornstein on strengthening American Democracy. RepresentUS released a new report highlighting the progress on and obstacles to election and voting reform. Leadership Now published a risk analysis with actionable steps for businesses to counter the risk of democratic instability. And, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill that will automatically register to vote people who completed their felony sentence. The project of reinventing American democracy for the 21st century is strong because of the continued engagement of civic catalysts like you. Thank you for being on this journey with us in 2023. We wish you a happy and healthy 2024.

On December 7, Commission members Steven Olikara and Norman Ornstein led a standing-room-only discussion on strengthening democracy at the Council of State Governments’ annual conference in Raleigh, NC. They underscored the importance of expanding national service, reforming campaign finance laws, expanding the size of the House of Representatives, and strengthening civic culture. 

From December 7-8, History Co:Lab and World Savvy convened education leaders, practitioners, and activists at the House of the Academy in Cambridge, MA. Participants examined the Roadmap for Educating for American Democracy, an inquiry-based content framework for K-12 history and civics to develop competencies and learning experiences related to the practice of global democracy. 

RepresentUS released a first-of-its-kind report to show both the progress and obstacles the pro-democracy movement encountered in 2023. 

Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance, writes about the immense benefits of service years for young people and how a year of service can pave the way to career opportunities. 

Leadership Now released a new risk analysis with actionable steps for businesses to counter the risk of democratic instability ahead of the 2024 elections.

Fix the Court’s guide tracks Senators’ positions on Supreme Court Term Limits. 

Citizen University’s Civic Saturday Fellows offer best practices for hosting civic gatherings. 

RepresentWomen’s toolkit equips individuals and organizations with tools to communicate about the benefits of RCV for representation. 

The second edition of Nonprofit VOTE’s Philanthropy for Voter Engagement toolkit includes tips, best practices, and case studies for foundations to promote voter engagement.

Colleges and Universities should not just protect students’ speech rights but also insist that they exercise those rights in accordance with campus norms for a culture of mutual respect, writes Danielle Allen in The Washington Post.

Michigan will become the first state in the country to automatically register people to vote as they leave prison. Our Common Purpose recommended restoring federal and state voting rights to citizens with felony convictions immediately upon their release from prison. 

Thomas Kelly, Vice President of civic initiatives at the Jack Miller Center, recaps takeaways from the second annual National Summit on Civic Education.

A growing body of election reformers say proportional representation could help temper the rise of political extremism, among other benefits.

NPR assesses the impact of RCV on election outcomes and political polarization.

Governor Jared Polis endorsed RCV after it was used in his hometown of Boulder for the first time. 

More in Common is accepting applications for a new Director to help shape and advance the next phase of its growth and impact in the United States. 

Apply to the 2025 Class of New America National Fellows to develop your next big idea. Deadline: February 1, 2024. 

Apply to CivXNow’s Teacher Advocacy Project (TAP), a grassroots network of educators trained to advocate for the civic mission of schools.