2023 Action Plan
2023 Action Plan
Partners In Democracy was founded in April 2022, and in 2023, we’re moving full steam ahead with our efforts to build a healthier democracy. We’re starting here at home in Massachusetts, while building out our national partnerships and laying the groundwork for further efforts in other states.
Partners In Democracy was founded in April 2022, and in 2023, we’re moving full steam ahead with our efforts to build a healthier democracy. We’re starting here at home in Massachusetts, while building out our national partnerships and laying the groundwork for further efforts in other states.
Why Massachusetts?
Massachusetts prides itself on our history as the birthplace of American democracy. But today, we’ve got serious gaps in how well our democracy works, and who it serves. Based on our research, Massachusetts…
→ Has voter registration rates below the national average for Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans citizens.
→ Has some of the country’s least competitive elections — which means some of the least choice for voters.
→ Has one of the least transparent state legislatures, which makes it hard for people to weigh in and help shape the legislative process.
→ Is 37th in the country for the gap between BIPOC population and BIPOC legislative representation — and 48th in the country for the gap between white and BIPOC voter turnout. While Black, Latinx, and AAPI residents make up 26.3% of our state’s population, these groups accounted for only 13.3% of votes cast in 2022.
There’s a lot more that needs to be done to advance the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities in Massachusetts — and making progress on these issues is good for all of us. See our Massachusetts Democracy Scorecard for more detail.
Why Massachusetts?
Massachusetts prides itself on our history as the birthplace of American democracy. But today, we’ve got serious gaps in how well our democracy works, and who it serves. Based on our research, Massachusetts…
→ Has voter registration rates below the national average for Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans citizens.
→ Has some of the country’s least competitive elections — which means some of the least choice for voters.
→ Has one of the least transparent state legislatures, which makes it hard for people to weigh in and help shape the legislative process.
→ Is 37th in the country for the gap between BIPOC population and BIPOC legislative representation — and 48th in the country for the gap between white and BIPOC voter turnout. While Black, Latinx, and AAPI residents make up 26.3% of our state’s population, these groups accounted for only 13.3% of votes cast in 2022.
There’s a lot more that needs to be done to advance the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities in Massachusetts — and making progress on these issues is good for all of us. See our Massachusetts Democracy Scorecard for more detail.
Our Solution: A 360° strategy for a healthy democracy
The good news is, there’s a massive amount of public will to fix these problems. Partners In Democracy is excited to play a critical role to multiply the power of the democracy renovation movement in Massachusetts — building on the work of advocates, lawmakers, and community members, and driving a strategic, holistic, inclusive, coalition-based agenda for change, rooted in our 360° Democracy Standard. To make that happen, in 2023 and 2024, we’re supporting a legislative agenda for change and exploring a potential ballot initiative for a healthier democracy.
Legislative Agenda
In the current legislative session in Massachusetts, Partners In Democracy is supporting the legislative agenda championed by the Election Modernization Coalition. These coalition-backed changes would be a huge step forward for Massachusetts’ democracy. We’re also championing other complementary changes to help expand the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities. Our current 2023-2024 legislative priorities include:
- Passing a local option bill that would allow communities to adopt municipal voting rules of their choice, such as ranked choice voting, without having to ask permission from the state. By removing barriers so that our towns and cities can more easily enact election rules that work for them, we can expand the right to see and shape our communities for all Massachusetts residents.
- Decoupling voter registration from the municipal census to protect and expand the right to vote. Partners In Democracy is advocating to end the practice of dropping voters from the registrar when they have not responded to the municipal census — a practice that impedes many Massachusetts voters from voting each year.
- Taking a crucial step forward on voting rights by passing same-day voter registration. By allowing people to register to vote on Election Day, we can minimize barriers and make voting much more accessible — ensuring more people can make their voice heard in our democracy.
- Making voting easier and less confusing by streamlining the forms and ballots for uniform mail and absentee voting. To protect the right to vote, we need to make voting processes as simple and accessible as possible. This change would help make that happen — all while streamlining the process for election officials and reducing workload and election costs.
- Requiring accessibility inspections of polling places to protect voting rights for voters with disabilities and ensure all polling places are accessible to all voters.
Community Prioritization Process & Potential Ballot Initiative
Partners In Democracy is also excited to be exploring a potential ballot initiative for the 2024 or 2026 election in Massachusetts. This ballot initiative would complement our legislative agenda — filling the gaps to help protect the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities.
The next step in the process: in 2023, we’re leading a community prioritization process to get input from communities across the state — gathering feedback from democracy advocates, grassroots activists and community members, students, the business community, and more. Their input will shape our next steps on whether to move forward with a ballot initiative, and what it should include. Some of the possibilities:
- same-day voter registration to make it easier for people to participate
- simplifying the process for getting on the ballot to ensure more candidates can step up to represent their community
- updating our primary process, likely to a Top 5 election system, so people can better make their voices heard. The Top 5 model is similar to Alaska’s new system. Instead of partisan primaries, this model uses a single nonpartisan preliminary election where candidates from all parties, including independents, run on one ballot. Then, the top 5 candidates who get the most votes move on to a general election using an instant runoff with ranked choice voting.
Want to get involved and help us take action in 2023? Sign up to learn more and join our efforts today!
Our Solution: A 360° strategy for a healthy democracy
The good news is, there’s a massive amount of public will to fix these problems. Partners In Democracy is excited to play a critical role to multiply the power of the democracy renovation movement in Massachusetts — building on the work of advocates, lawmakers, and community members, and driving a strategic, holistic, inclusive, coalition-based agenda for change, rooted in our 360° Democracy Standard. To make that happen, in 2023 and 2024, we’re supporting a legislative agenda for change and exploring a potential ballot initiative for a healthier democracy.
Legislative Agenda
In the current legislative session in Massachusetts, Partners In Democracy is supporting the legislative agenda championed by the Election Modernization Coalition. These coalition-backed changes would be a huge step forward for Massachusetts’ democracy. We’re also championing other complementary changes to help expand the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities. Our current 2023-2024 legislative priorities include:
- Passing a local option bill that would allow communities to adopt municipal voting rules of their choice, such as ranked choice voting, without having to ask permission from the state. By removing barriers so that our towns and cities can more easily enact election rules that work for them, we can expand the right to see and shape our communities for all Massachusetts residents.
- Decoupling voter registration from the municipal census to protect and expand the right to vote. Partners In Democracy is advocating to end the practice of dropping voters from the registrar when they have not responded to the municipal census — a practice that impedes many Massachusetts voters from voting each year.
- Taking a crucial step forward on voting rights by passing same-day voter registration. By allowing people to register to vote on Election Day, we can minimize barriers and make voting much more accessible — ensuring more people can make their voice heard in our democracy.
- Making voting easier and less confusing by streamlining the forms and ballots for uniform mail and absentee voting. To protect the right to vote, we need to make voting processes as simple and accessible as possible. This change would help make that happen — all while streamlining the process for election officials and reducing workload and election costs.
- Requiring accessibility inspections of polling places to protect voting rights for voters with disabilities and ensure all polling places are accessible to all voters.
Community Prioritization Process & Potential Ballot Initiative
Partners In Democracy is also excited to be exploring a potential ballot initiative for the 2024 or 2026 election in Massachusetts. This ballot initiative would complement our legislative agenda — filling the gaps to help protect the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities.
The next step in the process: in 2023, we’re leading a community prioritization process to get input from communities across the state — gathering feedback from democracy advocates, grassroots activists and community members, students, the business community, and more. Their input will shape our next steps on whether to move forward with a ballot initiative, and what it should include. Some of the possibilities:
- same-day voter registration to make it easier for people to participate
- simplifying the process for getting on the ballot to ensure more candidates can step up to represent their community
- updating our primary process, likely to a Top 5 election system, so people can better make their voices heard. The Top 5 model is similar to Alaska’s new system. Instead of partisan primaries, this model uses a single nonpartisan preliminary election where candidates from all parties, including independents, run on one ballot. Then, the top 5 candidates who get the most votes move on to a general election using an instant runoff with ranked choice voting.
Want to get involved and help us take action in 2023? Sign up to learn more and join our efforts today!
Our potential ballot initiative would aim to build a healthier democracy by advancing the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities. Some aspects of these issues in Massachusetts, and potential solutions, are as follows:
Right to Vote
Problem
- Lower than average Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American voter registration
- Disparities between voting rates for suburbs and gateway cities
Solution Options
- Same day voter registration
- Automatic mailing of ballots
Right to Run
Problem
Least competitive elections in the country
Solution Options
- Switch from both/and ballot access requirement to either/or requirement
- Switch to Top 5 Primary System
Right to See and Shape
Problem
- Among the least transparent
legislatures in the country Excessive burdens on voters
Solution Options
- Get foreign money out of politics
- Democracy vouchers
- Mandate reporting of committee votes
- Streamline elections calendar
(no odd year elections) - Felon re-enfranchisement
- End need of home rule petitions for municipal RCV
Our potential ballot initiative would aim to build a healthier democracy by advancing the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape our communities. Some aspects of these issues in Massachusetts, and potential solutions, are as follows:
- Lower than average Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American voter registration
- Disparities between voting rates for suburbs and gateway cities
