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In this issue:  Election reform advocates regroup,  12 years after Citizen United, and sore losers are bad for democracy

The Fulcrum
January 20, 2022



TOP STORY

Election reform advocates regroup, plan next steps

David Meyers

Even though Democrats’ two signature election reform bills have once again been defeated in the Senate, advocates for change are vowing to press ahead on multiple fronts.

Republicans, as expected, blocked passage of the combined Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on Wednesday night. And Democrats’ effort to change the filibuster went down immediately after, as moderates Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema sided with Republicans in blocking the rules change.

Now some advocates are focusing on a limited set of federal voting reforms while others are taking aim at state and local changes. And a bipartisan group of senators has been discussing a handful of ideas that might be achievable in the 50-50 Senate.

Regardless of the path forward, many advocates seem to agree with RepresentUs CEO Johsua Graham Lynn, who on Wednesday said: “While the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act is the best way to protect America’s democracy in this precarious moment, it’s not the only way.”

Keep Reading...

DEBATE

Money, power and the Constitution: Fixing the foundation

Jeff Clements

The fight now isn't to overturn Citizens United. It's about how we rescue free speech and the First Amendment for all Americans, writes Jeff Clements, president of American Promise.

PODCAST

Podcast: Sore losers are bad for democracy

Our Staff

In this episode of the "Democracy Works" podcast, the discussion focuses on why the loser’s consent is a critical part of a healthy democracy and what happens when politicians fail to abide by it.

Listen now

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Contributors

Reform in 2023: Leadership worth celebrating

Layla Zaidane

Two technology balancing acts

Dave Anderson

Reform in 2023: It’s time for the civil rights community to embrace independent voters

Jeremy Gruber

Congress’ fix to presidential votes lights the way for broader election reform

Kevin Johnson

Democrats and Republicans want the status quo, but we need to move Forward

Christine Todd Whitman

Reform in 2023: Building a beacon of hope in Boston

Henry Santana
Jerren Chang
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