All the initiative’s work will be conducted transparently and regularly communicated to the public and media. Transparent communication channels will be established with formal professional associations of elected officials and policymakers. The objective will be to inform them of the initiative’s goals so they recognize its value, and are receptive to working with state coalitions and the public on adoption of the Democracy Roadmaps’ comprehensive recommendations when publicly released.

Public sector reforms could include legislation, regulations or constitutional amendments. Private sector reforms would be actionable by civil society. Examples of reform topics that the People’s Assembly might consider in their deliberations include:

  • Voter Registration & Participation

  • Election Integrity/ Election Security/ Ballot Counting

  • Electoral Process; Voting Systems

  • Representation: How Political Districts are Drawn 

  • Availability of Reliable Voter Information (Relevant, Objective, Independently Verifiable Information)

  • Money in Politics: When Special Interest Influence Conflicts with the Public Interest

  • Civic Education/ Preparing the Next Generation 

  • Responsible Expenditures of Public Funds; Transparency, and Accountability

  • Taxpayer/Citizen/Voter/ Roles Responsibilities, and Recourse

  • Who Runs for Office: The Cost of Campaigns and Legislative Rules and Culture

  • Direct Democracy Pathways

This initiative will directly address low levels of awareness of democratic government norms by building on existing levels of support for U.S. democracy. It will acknowledge the common belief that our democratic institutions and elected officials don’t accurately represent the people’s needs, as well as the low levels of trust in government due to the differential experiences of U.S. communities. This initiative will address historic and current systemic barriers to democratic participation (resulting in disparate outcomes) by building a new democracy that is representative of the needs of all Americans and that ensures equitable and accessible pathways for participation and representation. Americans from all communities will benefit from this sustainable outcome.

We note that the state civics campaigns will also serve as a resource for elected officials, other decision makers and media who may need nonpartisan information and materials to cite when publicly explaining/defending democratic norms and good governance practices.