In the aftermath of the 2020 election, the United States came dangerously close to full democratic upheaval with the January 6 insurrection and efforts to overturn election results. Were it not for the heroic actions from a handful of state and local elected officials from both parties, the outcome could have been far worse. Far from being over, since January 6, anti-democratic efforts to block access to the ballot box have continued in state legislatures and courtrooms across the country. It is imperative – and urgent – that we shore up our democratic process to withstand attacks on its legitimacy, especially as we head into the 2024 Presidential Election.
Click here to visit the Democracy Playbook
In February of 2023, the Democracy Working Group released our Democracy Playbook, which contains more than 40 specific action steps that officials should take ahead of the 2024 presidential election and highlights the vital role state and local officials play in our elections, including where, how, and when Americans can vote. The Democracy Playbook is the culmination of nine months of meetings and conversations between elected officials and outside experts focused on maintaining free, fair, and safe elections.
While we strongly support the passage of federal legislation to protect the right to vote and maintain the integrity of our elections, state and local elected officials play an important role, and can – and are -- acting now. The NewDEAL Forum is committed to driving change at the state and local levels, and is uniquely positioned to spearhead an effort to share best practices for preserving the health of our democracy, safeguarding the right of every eligible American to vote, and ensuring the results of those votes are respected. As highlighted by NewDEAL Forum CEO Debbie Cox Bultan and group co-chair Ken Lawrence, Montgomery County, PA Commissioner, "Our goal [is to] give these leaders the tools and information they need to resist those who would undermine our democracy."
Working Group Co-Chairs
