[link removed] [[link removed]]Dear John,
As spring finally arrives, Minnesota is, in some ways, experiencing an awakening on racial justice - with hope and accountability from the Chauvin verdict but also continued dismay and heartbreak at continued injustices. We know that policy can make a difference, that representation matters, and we hope that our work for democracy reform will help bring about the inclusive and representative democracy which leads to lasting and transformative change.
FairVote MN staff and volunteers have been busy this spring – continuing our work for Ranked Choice Voting at the state legislature, highlighting the power of RCV to bring about the multi-racial democracy we all deserve, and beginning the work of educating candidates, cities and voters to ensure successful RCV elections in five Minnesota cities this fall. Read on for highlights from the past month!
The MN Senate tries to take our democracy backward while our champions push it forward
On Monday, the Senate majority passed a Senate State Government Omnibus bill (SF 1831/HF 1952) that included a ban on Ranked Choice Voting in local elections and measures that will make election day voting more difficult, like provisional balloting and elimination of vouching. The bill now moves on to a conference committee with the Minnesota House and Senate where all measures in the bill will be negotiated. While we expect our democracy champions to reject these provisions in conference committee, please take a moment to contact your senator and urge them to oppose these anti-democratic measures [[link removed]] .
We would like to thank Senator Kent Eken who put forward an amendment to remove the RCV ban from the bill as well as Senators Melisa Franzen, Mary Kunesh, Greg Clausen, Jim Carlson, Aric Putnam, and John Marty who spoke eloquently about the many benefits of RCV and the dangers of usurping local control. Watch video highlights of these democracy champions in the Senate debate here [[link removed]] . Several of these same senators and other Senate bill authors held a Press Briefing on April 15 to highlight the importance of our statewide pro-RCV bill (SF 218) and to denounce the anti-democratic measures in the omnibus bill. Thanks to those of you who were able to join the briefing, and for those who couldn’t make it, you can view the briefing here [[link removed]] .
Do get mad, but please don’t be discouraged by these anti-democratic moves by the Senate majority. We must recognize it is part of a larger national effort to make voting more difficult and preserve government by the few. It only strengthens our resolve as an organization to keep fighting for broad access to voting and for reforms like Ranked Choice Voting that ensure a more representative, responsive and inclusive democracy.
As we fight back against anti-democratic measures, our work to expand RCV is bearing fruit. We have growing support for statewide RCV in both the House and Senate. Representative Esther Agbaje introduced the third RCV Bill, clone bill HF 2567 [[link removed]] , as chief author in the Minnesota House on Monday, along with co-authors Representatives Aisha Gomez and Samantha Vang. The statewide RCV legislation now has 15 cosponsors in the Senate and 48 authors in the House, more authors than any other bill! We will continue to build this momentum and work to pass the bill in the House this biennium. It is YOUR advocacy and support that has made this possible, and we will keep working to bring this reform statewide. We are poised to pass the RCV bill in the House next session and, if the current Senate continues to be obstructionist, we will work to elect pro-democracy champions in the Senate next year and pass the bill in the Senate in 2023 and get it to the Governor’s desk for signature. He has committed to signing the bill.
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Events Showcasing the Power of RCV to Promote Diversity and Inclusion
FairVote Minnesota continues to highlight the power of RCV to open up the political process to people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, particularly for those historically excluded from the process.
On March 23, we hosted Black Leaders at the Forefront of Democracy Reform , a compelling discussion led by FairVote MN Board member and University of Minnesota Professor Michael Minta, with our all-star panel – Board member and human rights activist Zaylore Stout, Community Change Organizer Mike Griffin, and some of the leading reform advocates at the state legislature, including Representatives Cedrick Frazier and Esther Agbaje. In this time of a national reckoning on race, it is critical that we elevate the voices of Black leaders and hear what they have to say about how we can improve our democracy. The discussion underscored the importance of breaking down historic and structural barriers to participation by Black Minnesotans and people of color - both as voters and as candidates – and highlighted the potential of Ranked Choice Voting in furthering that goal.
As Mike Griffin explained, "There could not be a bigger issue or policy that can change the lives of Black folks in this country than passing Ranked Choice Voting. Why? Because it gives more choice and power to people who are voting, and it opens up issues that need to be tackled."
If you missed part of the program or would like to share it with others, you can find the recording here [[link removed]] and highlights here [[link removed]] .
[[link removed]]On April 6, FairVote Minnesota, along with our generous sponsors, hosted a powerful conversation, Women Leading Democracy Forward, with national democracy expert and award-winning author Professor Danielle Allen, State Senator Melisa Franzen and State Representative Kelly Morrison about ways to create a more inclusive and responsive democracy where women have both “voice and representation.”
Noting that that the United States ranks 67th for women’s representation, just ahead of Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, Professor Allen highlighted the need for reform to enable more women to run for office and win, and she identified Ranked Choice Voting as a key reform to accomplish that goal. “Where we see Ranked Choice Voting active,” she explained, “we have seen an increase in both women and people of color running for office and winning office.”
If you weren’t able to join us, you can watch the full video here: Recording of Women Leading Democracy Forward [[link removed]] and highlights here. [[link removed]]
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Education and Outreach for Ranked Choice Voting Elections
This spring we turn to the exciting work of educating and supporting candidates, elected officials, cities and voters in preparation for RCV elections in five cities Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Bloomington and Minnetonka – this fall!
On April 16th and 17th, close to 40 people attended our Ranked Choice Voting campaign training for candidates and their teams running in RCV elections this fall. The training, led by national RCV training experts Grace Ramsey and Maria Perez from Democracy Rising, covered how to run an effective, coalition-building and winning campaign under RCV. The training included a panel discussion moderated Ron Harris, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Minneapolis, with candidates and campaign managers who have run under RCV, including Las Cruces (NM) Councilmember Johana Bencomo, MN State Representative Sandra Feist, and Sean Dugar, Strategist for the Pam Harris for Oakland City Council campaign. While the training was held on Zoom, the sessions were highly interactive and included role playing and small group breakouts. The feedback we received and participant surveys from the training were overwhelmingly positive. You can view Day 1 from the training here [[link removed]] and the panel discussion from Day 2 here [[link removed]] .
[[link removed]]It has been an active spring, and YOU have been a key partner in our success – contacting legislators, volunteering, donating, hosting and attending FairVote MN events – and we could not be more grateful for your partnership and support.
Thank you!
Your FairVote MN Team
P.S. Our April match of $10,000 ends tomorrow at midnight. If you haven’t had a chance to make a contribution toward this match and support the important work above, please take a minute to make a contribution now! [P.S. Our April match of $10,000 ends tomorrow at midnight. If you haven’t had a chance to make a contribution toward this match and support the important work above, please take a minute to make a contribution now! [link]. Taking RCV statewide is within our reach and every dollar you give will be matched to go toward this critical goal. Thank you!] . Taking RCV statewide is within our reach and every dollar you give will be matched to go toward this critical goal. Thank you!
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