What happened this week gives us a good indication
  <[link removed]>  
Hi Friend,

 

At Unite America, the question we ask most is: “How do we build the movement?”

 

Our movement is one of individuals who are fed up, lawmakers who actually want
to put country over party, and nonpartisan organizations and activists working
to build a more representative and functional government that puts voters
first. We look to other successful movements — the Political Reform Era
<[link removed]> of the early twentieth
century that reshaped politics in the public interest, or the marriage equality
movement (Happy Pride!) that proved there’s more that unites us than divides —
and ask ourselves how we can replicate their energy, momentum, and success. 

 

What happened on Tuesday represents a major win for the voters first movement
— one exciting example of how this coalition’s advocacy and efforts are taking
the ‘voters first’ movement to the next level. 

 

But more on that below. Here are three things for this week.

Ranked choice voting comes to the Big Apple
<[link removed]>.
<[link removed]>

New Yorkers headed to the polls Tuesday for the first city-wide use of ranked
choice voting, and the country’s largest expansion of the powerful reform ever.
Following asuccessful ballot initiative
<[link removed]> led by some of our partners in
2019  (which passed with 73% support!), the primary was the first chance many
New Yorkers had to use the system in real life. With a high-profile mayoral
election on the ballot,turnout for the election was robust
<[link removed]>
.


This is a huge victory for reformers and activists
<[link removed]>, who have worked tirelessly to lobby
politicians and city officials to help ensure New Yorkers were educated about
how to use the new election system. While we won’t know the outcome of the race
for a few weeksdue to the state’s election laws
<[link removed]> to
ensure every vote is counted and the election is secure, so far, voters have
been clear:they like ranked choice voting
<[link removed]>
. 



<[link removed]>

<[link removed]>
How Kentucky beat partisanship for voters
<[link removed]>
. <[link removed]>

2021 has been dominated by stories about partisan battles happening across the
country, as often Republican state legislatures advance false narratives about
election security to justify any number of new election laws. In Kentucky,
however, we’re seeing something different: Republicans and Democrats working
together to expand ballot access and improve the voting process — making it
both more secure and more voter-friendly. 


Public Integrity
<[link removed]>
highlights the work of Republican Secretary of StateMichael Adams
<[link removed]> leading the charge to bring his party members
on board, ensuring that elections were “easy to vote and hard to cheat.”
Working with Democratic governor Andy Beshear, the two men created a model for
bipartisanship that can be a model for leaders across the country.Check out the
piece here
<[link removed]>
. 



<[link removed]>

<[link removed]>
Election officials are leaving
<[link removed]>
.
<[link removed]>

Over the last year, election officials have come under attack like never
before; their jobs, their families, and their lives have been threatened by
individuals and online groups perpetuating the Big Lie conspiracy theory. As a
new report from the AP
<[link removed]>
demonstrates, it’s starting to take a toll. Increasingly, election officials
are stepping down, leaving room for conspiracy theorists to take their place. 


As lawmakers in some states ramp up penalties in response to disinformation —
including thousands of dollars in fines and jail time — we’re losing longtime
experienced election administrators across the country. . Election
administration positions vary from state to state and sometimes county to
county, but some of them are elected to office, and these low-attention races
are critical.Pay attention to your state and local candidates running for
office in election administration. They may get less news time, but they play
an enormous role in ensuring the integrity of our election systems. 



<[link removed]>

<[link removed]>
Brett
__
Brett Maney
Senior Communications Manager
Unite America
DONATE <[link removed]>


Want to stop receiving our weekly Three Things Thursday emails? Unsubscribe
<[link removed]>
 from Three Things Thursday, or Unsubscribe
<[link removed]>
from all Unite America communications.

Unite America | 1580 Lincoln St Suite #520 Denver, CO 80218
Paid for by Unite America.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
www.uniteamerica.org <[link removed]>