So you agree? Politics is getting stupider?
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Hi Friend,

 

Time is moving quickly. We’re just two weeks from the start of May primary
elections, when voters will go to the ballot and cast votes that are — in most
cases — significantly more important than the votes cast in the general
election in November. In Indiana, with its semi-open primary, voters will be
casting ballots on May 3rd. In eight of the state’s nine congressional
districts, the primary will be the only election that matters. 

 

If you’re an Indiana voter who doesn't participate in the dominant party
primary? Your voice is meaningless. Whoever goes on to win the primary will
almost certainly win the general — and be held accountable only by the small
number of voters who participated in the one of three elections that mattered. 


The Primary Problem <[link removed]>
is the primary problem with our politics today. Don’t believe us? Check out
these three things this week: 

We’re living in Babylon and it’s making politics stupider
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Getting Republicans and Democrats to agree on anything, big or small,
important or trivial, has become nearly impossible. The rise of social media
echo chambers has made facts and common narratives a thing of the past; now,
Team Red and Team Blue speak two different languages.We’re like the biblical
story of Babylon, with America as our tower, and like the people of Babylon,
we’re on a path to destruction of everything we’ve worked to build. 

 

In The Atlantic
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this week, author Jonathan Haidt writes about America’s path to destruction,
and the internet’s unique role in bringing us here. But importantly, Haidt
points to certain things we can do to maintain our nation — including hardening
democratic institutions through reforms like theprimary reform that was passed
in Alaska last year.Check out his important read “Why the Past 10 Years of
American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” here
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. 



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Americans want RCV for federal elections
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A new poll from the University of Maryland has found that a majority of
Americans support using ranked choice voting for federal elections. 61% said
they’d support using RCV in federal races with more than two candidates. 

 

Important for reformers: researchers found that resistance to ranked choice
voting was rooted in ignorance of the system. When the reform was explained to
respondents, more supported the reform. What can you tell your friends about
why they should support ranked choice voting?Ranked choice voting gives voters
morechoice, voice, and power
<[link removed]> in their elections.
ReadThe Fulcrum’s
<[link removed]> breakdown
of thestudy here
<[link removed]>. 



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Why expanding absentee voting matters
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During the pandemic, when voting in-person was oftentimes dangerous for
Americans, a number of states took the important step of expanding absentee
voting to all voters. In states like California (and others), the legislature
decided to send every registered voter a ballot.Unsurprisingly, making voter
easier for voters improved outcomes for diverse voters and voters of color.  

 

In a new study from the Public Policy Institute of California
<[link removed]>
, researchers unpack the impact of California’s expanded vote at home system
and its effects on voter representation. It’s important that in addition to
making voting easier for Americans, italso makes elections more secure
<[link removed]>. Read the results of the
studyhere
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. 



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


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