Defend Democracy Team

“…from Protest To Policy.” Elijah Cummings.

Indivisible Defend Democracy Guide

We’ve defeated Trump. We’ve defeated his cronies. We won in Georgia and took the Senate. We’ve celebrated. Now, we have a short window to save our democracy. Getting it done depends on all of us, and this new Indivisible guide provides a blueprint.

TEAM MISSION and GOALS

Defend the Democracy of the United States: In our country and throughout the world, democratic values are under assault. The Defend Democracy team is committed to educating ourselves and others about the challenges we face and promoting and participating in actions that support and defend democratic values.

Indivisible has joined the Declaration for American Democracy, a historic coalition of over 145 organizations representing millions of people nationwide. Our coalition includes groups from the labor, racial justice, faith, women’s rights, environmental, good government, and many other important communities. Formed in 2018, we set out on a mission to take back our democracy and restore power to the people. We believe that we must build a democracy where everyone participates, every vote is counted, and everyone’s voice is heard.

2020

•Participated in voter registration drives, together with the League of Women Voters
•Lobbied the Maryland Board of Elections and Governor Hogan to ensure fair and safeelections in 2020
•Organized rally in support of US Post Office in August 2020
•Lobbied the Maryland Legislature in support of bills to enhance voter access, ensure voting rights  and improve campaign financing; contributed to the passing of Mail-in Voting bill in 2020.

2021

•Launched a new initiative focused on improving civic education in Howard County schools and joined the Maryland Civic Education Coalition.
•Lobbied two State/HoCo elected officials (C. Watson and K. Hester) to sign the letter from Democratic Maryland General Assembly (MGA)  members to the MGA calling for Representative Harris’s resignation in view of this actions on January 6, 2020.
•Letter to the Editor on H.R.1 published in the Howard County Times/Columbia Flyer.
•Submitted testimony in support of key election bills.  Contributed to the passing of the following key bills:
1.HB156/SB283 Student and Military Voter Empowerment Act
2.HB222 Value My Vote Act (complemented by SB525, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and State Board of Elections – Centralized Booking Facility – Ballot Drop Box)
3.SB415 Maryland Fair Elections Act 
HB1048 Permanent Absentee Ballot List
At the national and state levels:
 
• Ensure clean and fair elections: improve access, promote integrity, ensure security.
• Reverse the discriminatory practices and restrictive voting laws caused but the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision.
• End the dominance of big money in politics: guarantee disclosure, empower citizens, strengthen oversight. Specifically, call for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
• Ensure public officials work in the public interest: fortify ethics law, impose greater ethics enforcement. In particular, lobby for Sheldon Whitehouse’s bill to reform the Supreme Court (The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act or SCERT).
 
Also, 

 Continue to support the Washington DC Admission Act (H.R. 51), for statehood of Washington DC.

Key actions:

• Participation in key national and state coalitions, and actions as appropriate.
• Testimony in support of important election and government transparency bills in the Maryland General Assembly
• Calls and emails to Maryland Senators Cardin and Van Hollen as well as Congressman Sarbanes
• Letters to the Editor.

Howard County Elections - Behind the Scenes

HoCo Elections Takeaway

 

The series of short articles below give background that can help in evaluating legislation and candidate positions on issues. Please read and share these!

 

Fair Elections

National Popular Vote

A Solution to the Electoral College

Why we should abolish Electoral college

Electoral College presentation

Campaign Finance Reform

Congressional Findings in HR-1

The Case for Campaign Finance Reform

How citizens united reshaped elections

The 2010 Supreme Court decision further tilted political influence toward wealthy donors and corporations.

Public Financing Programs for Elections

A Brief History

Public Financing of Elections

A Case For and Against

Models for Public Financing of Elections

And How They Have Fared

Maryland Candidacy & Campaign Finance Laws

Summary Guide

Howard County Citizens Election Fund

Redistricting of Congressional and State Legislature Offices

A Primer on Redistricting

Redistricting US Congressional Districts in MD

Recommendations on Changing the Current System

Contact Us

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