Die-hard midwesterner and elections/admin research contractor. Currently: Fellow at @ERN_Reformers, Documentary for Youth Franchise Coalition. He/him. 🏳️🌈
NEW: Twin studies from @ERN_Reformers examine the election results certification process in the U.S. & abroad. We find that while party-affiliated officials are in charge of this process in most states, such practices are rare in peer democracies. [THREAD] https://t.co/RhOZd6FMDo
ERN Executive Director @KevinJreformers for @fulcrum_us: In a polarized world in which a close and contested presidential election seems increasingly likely, it's important that Americans understand the rules and processes for "election overtime." https://t.co/6o5jvkVhOr
@CloseUp_DC It has been my privilege to work with many of the original key players in the movement to lower the voting age. After months of conducting oral histories, we realized we had gathered enough footage to string a compelling narrative thread together—and I'm very proud of the result.
Some personal news: "The 26th Amendment: The Long Road to the Fastest Ratification" has found a home on the @CloseUp_DC website!
I directed this documentary as part of a years-long effort to preserve the history of the 18-year-old vote.
View it HERE: https://t.co/CmKQdhmnXQ
Great read on an under-discussed direct democracy issue.
Citizen initiatives are already pricey—and most advocacy groups must factor in additional litigation costs when a hostile Secretary of State or Attorney General attempts to sway voters with skewed ballot summary language.
NEW: From Idaho to Ohio, Republican officials are using misleading and biased ballot language to undermine ballot measures they don't like. (Missouri's is unbelievable!)
https://t.co/P5U3DEOsxw
Good @GOVERNING piece in favor of impartial election administration from @ThomReillyNV was published while I was out on vacation!
It's a quick read with compelling stats, take a look: https://t.co/bhXUzPZObA
Incredible advocacy today by @markpgaber on behalf of @lwvutah before the Utah Supreme Court. (And congrats to @aseemmulji @JaydenHohnson @a_harless as well!)
We applaud your critical work and hope this case marks the beginning of the end of partisan gerrymandering in Utah!
“We shouldn’t be relying on eleventh-hour litigation in 2024 to fix foreseeable issues that can be addressed today."
-ERN Executive Director @KevinJreformers on our new report, “Helping States Comply with the Electoral Count Reform Act,” AVAILABLE NOW: https://t.co/lIhMwC93Yw
⬇️ Essential reading from my @ERN_Reformers colleagues @GMikeParsons & Drew Penrose.
An ambiguous & outdated law led to January 6th, which prompted Congress to pass the Electoral Count Reform Act.
Now, state law re: electors must be updated to create full clarity by 2024.
NEW REPORT: “Helping States Comply with the Electoral Count Reform Act” releases today.
This first-of-its-kind assessment gives state leaders the tools to complete the bipartisan #ElectoralCollege reform work Congress started after Jan. 6th.
READ HERE: https://t.co/XzAs0LKAzK
With polarization and mistrust overwhelming American politics, there are seven election innovations from abroad that we need to implement in the U.S., write ERN's @KevinJreformers and @SecureDemocracy's @rachaeldean in this piece for @BulwarkOnline. https://t.co/zEXgTjeoRA
These harmful bills aren’t what Ohioans want, support, or need, but it’s all we get from extreme and out-of-touch legislators thanks to illegally gerrymandered maps that remove us voters from having any real say in a political process that impacts our every aspect of our lives.
Polarization, misinformation, and gerrymandering plague U.S. politics. A new report co-authored by ERN's @KevinJreformers & colleagues at @SecureDemocracy details how international solutions to these pressing problems can be applied domestically.
READ: https://t.co/ipoh0i5Ih8
Great to see high-profile public officials speaking out against a rollback of democratic opportunity in the Midwest.
Citizen initiatives are one of the most vital avenues for public will to be recognized and implemented.
Opposition to the August special election is a truly non-partisan affair! Every living past Ohio governor is against Issue 1, and public servants from both sides of the aisle have spoken out against taking away Ohioans right to majority rule in citizen initiatives
#VoteNoInAugust
THIS THURSDAY (5/18) at 7:30 PM ET:
ERN's @KevinJreformers moderates a discussion with @CampaignLegal's @thetrevorpotter & @JaydenHohnson on election disinformation and anti-voter legislation ahead of 2024.
Register on the @nfrpp website (linked here): https://t.co/XTmRbHqjCB
Contender for most important election article of 2023 so far by @JessicaHuseman for @VotebeatUS. ERIC withdrawals make a great case for selecting election officials based on merit & professionalism, rather than electoral viability & political connections. https://t.co/3Qdi931SCN
"#Wisconsin citizens of every political persuasion should be able to trust that their state’s highest institution of justice can’t be won by one party," write ERN Executive Director @KevinJreformers and Senior Fellow @AlVanderklipp for @ivn: https://t.co/03l1s3vEFh
Love that the GOP is forcing this bill to be heard in the basement of the Statehouse - almost like they know it’s bad and doesn’t deserve to see the light of day if we had an actually functioning people-powered democracy.
🫠🫠🫠
Early voting is underway in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
But what if there were a way to pick independent, impartial judges that wasn't dependent on voter turnout, politicking, or ever-growing cash donations?
Read more on @fulcrum_us: https://t.co/IchwG7xFh3
@AlVanderklipp of @ERN_Reformers: Elections for state supreme court justices are becoming "all-out campaign warfare over the institution intended to preserve justice and the rule of law." Kudos for a great oped on a system that has to change!
https://t.co/2C55kuCZI7
Nebraska's unique unicameral, nonpartisan Legislature makes it possible for 1 senator to grind things to a halt
Longtime self-proclaimed "Defender of the Downtrodden" Ernie Chambers did it for decades
Now as Ernie would say there's a new sheriff in town
https://t.co/FVhSndVlv2
My latest for @fulcrum_us: Wisconsin's highly partisan Supreme Court race indicates a need to reframe the conversation around judicial elections.
Rather than asking "who should we elect," let's think bigger — "why should we elect them at all?" #wipolitics
https://t.co/9KPA88kpMV