Friday, January 12, 2024

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Happy Friday John,

Primary season is just around the corner, and that means we’re about to see millions of Americans unable to have a say in their next president. Many states have primaries that allow only party members to vote on candidates. This system freezes out independents—and, generally, allows the most partisan voters to decide who makes it to the general election.

Add that to gerrymandering, which means that the primary determines the winner in 83% of districts, and the primary is all that matters. It's no wonder we end up with options at the ballot box that most people don't like! In the presidential race, we're on track to have a general election between two candidates that 60%–70% of the population doesn’t like, and yet it feels like we have no say in the matter.

Primary season starts next Monday in Iowa with their notoriously complex and exclusionary caucus system. We'll be sure to feature the outcomes of this and other contests, highlighting how our current system leads to outcomes that most of us aren't excited by.

Nevada Forward Party Leads the Way on RCV and Open Primaries | Our Town Reno

The Nevada Forward Party and its chair, Cesar Marquez, are playing a key role in the push for election reforms. They worked tirelessly on the 2022 passage of Question 3, which enabled open, top-five primaries and general election RCV in Nevada. Now, they’re gearing up to make it happen again, as Nevada requires a constitutional amendment to pass twice to become law.

In 2022, the initiative passed with 53% of the vote, but Cesar and the crew in Nevada aren’t resting on their laurels—they want to widen that margin in 2024. We have full faith that the team is going to be successful.

January 25 | Greater Cleveland Forward Party Meeting

Join Cleveland area Forwardists on Thursday, January 25, at Market Garden Brewery at 1947 West 25th Street in Cleveland for a meeting of the minds. All are welcome. Come join and meet your fellow Forwardists. Register →

February 14 | Forward Ohio Statewide Meeting

The Ohio Forward Party is holding their monthly statewide meeting in early February. Join them on Zoom at 7pm and hear about upcoming events, phone banks, fundraisers, and meetups. Every little bit counts and we’re excited to meet you (or see you again if you’re an old friend). Register →

Louisiana Governor Trying To Roll State Back to Closed Primaries From The Current Open System | Independent Voter Network

Gerrymandering Is Systemic And We Can Fix It | WAMC

A New Voting System In Alaska Brought More Choice, Representation And Civility, Experts Say. A Bill In Wisconsin Would Enact The Same System Here. | The Badger Project

Jan. 6 Anniversary Falls As Experts Sound Alarm Over Risks To American Democracy | The Hill

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