Amid growing concerns around voter suppression and corporate interests in politics, 42 organizations wrote a letter calling on debate moderators to ask Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates for their views around voter rights and plans for democracy reform.
(Washington, DC) — Today, a group of 42 organizations signed a joint letter to the moderators for the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential debates, urging them to ask candidates about their positions on democracy reform, including voter access, money in politics and gerrymandering. As Americans continue to feel shut out of the democratic process, especially in their calls for police reform in Kenosha, robust climate action to put a stop to disasters like the fires in California, and rent relief in New York City, the letter’s co-signers are calling on debate moderators to put this issue of democracy reform in the national spotlight in the coming debates.
With unprecedented poll closures and voter suppression tactics in recent primaries, and corporate interests shaping local and national politics, democracy reform has and will continue to affect every aspect of American life, ranging from public health to climate change and national security to racial justice. And, as the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic continues to engender stronger mistrust in federal and local politics, the signers, including End Citizens United, People for the American Way, Represent Us and Common Cause, recognize the debates as a unique opportunity for candidates to address the American public’s calls for democracy reform.
“The upcoming debates are pivotal moments for our candidates to share their vision to build a more just and equitable democracy, and to rebuild trust with the American people. The moderators must exercise their unique role to facilitate urgent conversations about our democracy, from voter rights to money in politics. The American people are looking to the candidates to rise to the occasion and take a firm stance on how they plan to improve our democracy.” says Jana Morgan, co-signer and Director of the Declaration for American Democracy – a coalition of over 160 organizations from the labor, racial justice, voting rights, faith, environmental, women’s rights, good government, and many other important communities.
Please find the letter here.
