Voters in several states will see reform measures on this November’s ballot, including making voting more accessible, opening up primaries, expanding ranked-choice voting, and combinations of several reforms. At the same time, other states will feature measures to repeal these reforms. At the local level, there are many possibilities for improving the way we conduct elections, including reforms advocated by the League for over 100 years. 

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A Tale of Two

Charters: Brookings, SD

& Mt. Vernon, NY

Reflections on the Cities Fortifying Democracy Forum

An Interactive Demo of the Theatrical Production, City Council Meeting

The League is working with two cities on charter revision processes, Brookings, SD, and Mt. Vernon, NY. While both charters are quite different, the cities have a common interest in community outreach for revision ideas and infusing equity and civic engagement into their charters.

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The German Marshall Fund's Cities Fortifying Democracy Forum convened experts from Canada, the U.S. & Europe to discuss topics such as youth & consistent support, combating disinformation amidst the rise of authoritarianism, bridging divides & building multi-racial and inclusive cities. Read more.

How can tools from live theater lead us toward better public meetings and more creative organizing? How do we perform power, and who gets to play which roles? A participatory theater performance by Aaron Landsman at this year’s All-America City Award Event aimed to answer these questions. Watch here. 

Podcast: Embracing Democratic Innovation in School Systems

Summer Edition of NCR focuses on Solutions to Democracy Threats

2025 All-America City Award to Harness Local Sustainability Initiatives

Matt Leighninger joined Doannie Tran, Landon Mascareña and Stephen Hurley on a podcast to explore the intersection between education and democracy. The episode features a discussion about how to innovate and adapt our systems to meet the evolving needs of 21st-century citizens.

Listen.

The League's partnership with The Kettering Foundation continues with this edition of NCR, focusing on the escalating threats to democracy globally and the urgent need for solutions. Articles in this edition highlight the need for genuine citizen engagement, democracy innovation, and public deliberation. Read more.

As communities grapple with the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, AAC 2025 will recognize the pivotal role that community engagement plays in advancing environmental sustainability and resilience. The application will be released this Fall, learn more about the theme.