Independent Voting's Counsel Harry Kresky  takes an independent look at gerrymandering in  his latest op-ed for the Independent Voter Network  writing, "We can't allow the parties to make us think as though their rights are the same as ours." 

 

Read his op-ed "Gerrymandering: Two Bullies vs. the Voters."   

Tiani Coleman, President of New Hampshire Independent Voters (NHIV),  has recently taken the lead in getting independent voters in the region and throughout the country engaged with the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting in Maine. The Committee aims to pass a " People's Veto," allowing a recent referendum by the voters of Maine to take effect, overriding a delay and repeal attempt by the Maine legislature.  Coleman and Independent Voting President Jackie Salit reached out to independents in a series of emails, and Independents in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, and other states have jumped on board to make calls for the campaign. The February 5th deadline for petition gathering is fast approaching, but the drive is making good progress in reaching its goal. A victory in Maine will be a victory for democracy throughout the country.  

 

Coleman has also been instrumental in getting a bill for ranked-choice voting introduced in the New Hampshire legislature, working closely with Representative Ellen Read, the sponsor of  HB 1540 and one of the founding members of NHIV. This bill has given independent voters in New Hampshire a reform they can support and get excited about, one which coincides with NHIV's mission of giving a greater, more meaningful voice to all voters in the electoral process.  "This is generating momentum among independents, third parties, thoughtful mainstream party members and long-time ranked-choice voting supporters in a coalition movement that symbolizes the heart of what NHIV is about," says Tiani Coleman, who is currently leading that coalition.  "We've had independent voters who have for a long time been supportive of our reforms and our movement, but who have not been actively engaged, as well as new independent voters coming out of the woodwork, to start writing letters, contacting their legislators, coming to meetings and taking an active role.  Good things are yet to come in New Hampshire."  There will be a hearing on the bill before the New Hampshire House Election Law Committee on  January 23 at 1:00 p.m. in Concord.   

Independent Pennsylvanians were invited to speak about independent voters at the Arlen Spector Roxboro House Roundtable, an interdisciplinary discussion that takes place at Philadelphia University and provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to explore and consider a variety of themes in the cozy, historical Roxboro House living room.  Nichele Richardson, Jenn Bullock and Steve Bouikidis represented Independent Pennsylanians and spoke about their work to gain recognition for independents and to bring the voice of Pennsylvania independents into the mainstream.  Commented Jenn Bullock, Director of Independent Pennsylvanians, "Having an election system that is fair to all people, is not a spectator sport.  We have to find ways to participate in our political system where everyone can have a voice."  Listen to the full roundtable discussion here.

 

A Timely Update from Steve Hough, Director of Florida Fair and Open Elections:

 

On January 12 the Florida Constitution Revision Commission's Ethics and Elections Committee debated Commissioner Bill Schifino's open primaries proposal. After his presentation to the committee, several people spoke in support. Jason Olson, of Open Primaries, Andrew Huston, a volunteer for Florida Fair and Open Primaries and Progress for All, and I represented our core group of supporters. There were also speakers from the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and the law firm Stearns, Weaver, Miller.

 

We all made our cases the best we could, within the time allowed, before the committee began debate. The first two members to speak informed us they intended to vote no. From the previous Q&A during Commissioner Schifino's presentation, we knew two others would also be voting no. We were about to go down in flames when Commissioner Newsome threw us a life line. He suggested the committee "temporarily pass" the proposal. That is simply the Commission's terminology for postponing a vote. His motion was approved unanimously.

 

You can watch the video here.

 

At this point, we are unsure what will happen next, but our engagement over the past ten months has been productive and has certainly had a positive impact. It is interesting to note that our original proposal was for a top-two open primary (the Schifino proposal is for an open partisan primary), and there was considerable unsolicited discussion about top-two during the meeting. As Commissioner Schifino weighs his options, Jason Olson has offered his assistance in crafting an amended proposal. It is going to be interesting to see what happens next, and regardless of the outcome when the committee votes, we remain in the fight.

 

We continue to pick up new supporters and expand our network. A brand new supporter was able to have Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee and candidate for Governor of Florida, post his support on Facebook and Twitter the morning of the meeting. Supporters sponsored a table at an event in Jacksonville yesterday, and will be at another in Orlando this Sunday. As our work continues, the momentum continues to build as well. Whether we win or lose this round, the idea of open primaries now has a foothold in Florida, and there's no turning back.

 

Read Steve's latest opinion piece, "End the Lockout of Florida's 3.4 Million Independent Voters," in the Orlando Sentinel. 

It is a coincidence that I un-enrolled as a partisan voter and became what New Mexico calls a "Decline to State" at about the same time that our Democratically controlled state legislature shamefully redrew the boundaries of my district to make it forever blue. It had been a cohesive, center-of-the-state farm/ranch district. It is now over 100 miles in length, includes approximately 5,000 people separated from the rest of the district by a roadless mountain range and excludes most of the small towns that were previously its core. Its most populous precincts are in a suburb of Santa Fe, a fine place, but one that is culturally and socially very different from the rest of the district.

 

The intersection of me becoming a nonpartisan and the gerrymander of my district turns out to be a stroke of luck. I couldn't have picked a better jurisdiction to highlight one of the central inequities of our democracy. I've been involved in local efforts to take political mapmaking away from politicians for years. Now that I am a candidate for the state House of Representatives, I have a new and amplified platform. Running for office as an independent also gives me a megaphone to talk about ballot access inequity. My partisan (incumbent ) opponent needs to secure less than 20% of the nominating petition signatures I will need to secure. Moreover, he's already circulating his. Because I am not involved in a primary, my nominating petitions will not even be published until March. Being shut out of that process gives me a wonderful occasion to explain why opening up primaries is so important. These three issues are the motivating forces behind our campaign's central thrust: Fixing our Democracy. (Our slogan is, "sick of politics, SO ARE WE").

 

The race we're undertaking is an outsider initiative if there ever was one. If I were elected, I would be the first person in history to serve in our Legislature who was not a member of a party and the first since 1914 who was neither a Democrat or a Republican! However, in this season of political alienation we think our message is resonant. We are giving disgusted and disenfranchised voters a new voice. We are going to work especially hard to reach younger voters who disproportionately aren't attracted to the major parties. We're pleased, even startled, by the steam we've picked up since we launched this effort just a month ago.

 

We have been reading The Hub for years and have listened in on quite a few calls. Independent Voting's leadership is vital. We appreciate your interest in our challenge.