Joanna Zdanys

Deputy Director of the Elections and Government Program @BrennanCenter. Adjunct professor of clinical law @NYULaw. Views my own.

[Let NY Vote @LetNYvote]

Earlier today, the Senate Elections Committee reported key bills that would improve election administration in NY. We applaud the Committee for moving these bills, marking an important step for our state democracy to ensure every eligible voter receives quality voter service.

[Marina Pino @marina_r_pino]

Since the Supreme Court decided Citizens United 15 years ago, the ultrawealthy have fueled campaigns and drowned out small donations from everyday Americans. But New York State is showing the country how to meet this moment: small donor public financing. https://t.co/eQXlrk3ejq

[Brennan Center @BrennanCenter]

Election officials have been preparing for this election for a long time, taking “every precaution to ensure the security of votes” and guard against foreign interference, @vwdegraff tells @ABCNewsLive. “Voters should never be discouraged from voting, they absolutely should go out and vote.” https://t.co/yS9CCah0aV

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

Great resource from my @BrennanCenter colleagues @marina_r_pino @derektisler and Jiyoon Park to help address issues specific to college voters.

[Marina Pino @marina_r_pino]

Scores of college students will head the polls this fall. But many will face obstacles doing so. Our @BrennanCenter report offers solutions for election officials and college communities to work together to ensure students can better access the ballot box. https://t.co/li2CJiC4FA

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

Moving low-turnout local elections to even years is smart fiscal policy and good for our democracy.

[NYC Independent Budget Office @nycibo]

At the request of @CitizensUnionNY, IBO evaluated the fiscal impact of moving local elections to coincide with state and federal elections. We estimate the City could save $42M every two years. Read our report for more info: https://t.co/Y5hNhsBViF

[Gowri Ramachandran @GRamachandran03]

MO v. Murthy, 6-3, found the plaintiffs lacked standing, noting that many of the district court’s factual findings were “clearly erroneous.”

[Daniel I. Weiner @DanWeiner329]

Great piece by my colleague @HasanShanze about the role AI is playing in elections around the world. The risks for the political process are evident—but AI can also be a tool for legitimate, and often novel, methods of political communication. Policymakers need to weigh both sides of the equation. https://t.co/fQjNrOvP8q

[Brennan Center @BrennanCenter]

While synthetic media like deepfake images pose clear dangers to democracy, they can also be used to further creative political communication. Policymakers need to balance these competing interests when determining how to counter the harms of deceptive AI. https://t.co/Hx5ATSdko2

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

Important thread from @marina_r_pino on why allowing NY to join the Electronic Registration Information Center is good for New York's voters and election officials. NYers are looking to our state's leaders to deliver on this important legislation. 🧵👇

[Marina Pino @marina_r_pino]

Great time speaking in support of A7052C/S6173B this morning. It would allow NY to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). That would mean more accurate voter rolls, fewer improper purges of eligible voters, & more voter participation. https://t.co/FEahCm3BKk

[Alicia Bannon @alicia_bannon]

The display of a "stop the steal" symbol outside Justice Alito's home in January 2021 is a clear ethics violation but also much more than that. A Supreme Court justice appears to have embraced election denialism. That's a five-alarm fire. /1 https://t.co/swfP8HP1AR

[Brennan Center @BrennanCenter]

Public financing of campaigns is the best way to ensure that politicians address the needs of all citizens, not
just the desires of big donors. https://t.co/j4MCSoLBou

[Daniel I. Weiner @DanWeiner329]

It’s become increasingly fashionable in some circles to blame small campaign donors for the divisiveness of our politics. But as my colleague @IanVandewalker explains in a new paper, there isn’t much empirical evidence to suggest that small donors are a major cause of political dysfunction.

And to the extent there are some perverse incentives in how candidates raise small $$ (increasingly online, from outside their districts), the solution isn’t to condemn small donors, but to pass reforms that encourage candidates to raise more money locally from constituents, like NY’s new small donor matching system.

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

Essential reading from @IanVandewalker - giving small donors a bigger say is good for our democracy. Check it out👇

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

@Robyn_NSanders @BrennanCenter Congratulations, Robyn! Your dedication and brilliance will take you far, and I know you'll continue to make a difference wherever you go. Thanks for being such a terrific colleague!

[Brennan Center en Español @BrennanCenterEs]

#ElGlosario de #BrennanEnEspañol ofrece traducciones y contexto para las palabras y los términos que aparecen en las investigaciones del @BrennanCenter for Justice sobre el derecho al voto, las elecciones, la vigilancia del gobierno y otros temas.
https://t.co/Vj0EpqaRxj

[Stephanie Wylie @StephanieCWylie]

My new @BrennanCenter article examines the U.S. bail system: hundreds of thousands jailed pretrial due to unaffordable bail.

Yet, commercial bail industry lobbying blocks reforms.

We must prioritize fairness & safety over profit.

Read more: https://t.co/e6nTP3kExc

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

Loved writing this piece with @marina_r_pino for @NYLawJournal on how New York State's Public Campaign Finance Program can help build a stronger democracy in our state by uplifting the voices of more voters.

[New York Law Journal @NYLawJournal]

Giving a Stronger Voice to Smaller Donors https://t.co/fFm3ijdfi4

[Joanna Zdanys @jzdanys]

Great piece from @brigidbergin on the effort to move low-turnout city elections to even years. It's a common-sense way to give more New Yorkers the chance to be heard in local elections.

[Brigid Bergin @brigidbergin]

What if NYC’s mayoral election was this year? Experts say more people would vote in it. https://t.co/coPYcUouj1 via @gothamist

[Marina Pino @marina_r_pino]

I enjoyed every minute writing this @MsMagazine piece with my brilliant @BrennanCenter colleague Julia Fishman. We explain how small donor public financing is a powerful tool to help more women get elected. And fortunately, it's a reform on the march. https://t.co/JGnSVOVpa8

[Melissa Murray (@ProfMMurray on Threads 🧵) @ProfMMurray]

Alito: "What is required for a stable democratic society, which we all want?"

America: Court reform.