COMMON CAUSE

COMMON CAUSE LED OR SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS PRO-VOTER LAWS:- IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM, WE PRIORITIZED CAMPAIGNS THAT DIRECTLY ENGAGED INCARCERATED PERSONS IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND ADVANCED POLICIES LEADING TO UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. * IN COLORADO, WE WON OUR JAIL BASED VOTING ACT CAMPAIGN. THIS NEW STATUTE CREATES ACCESS TO VOTING, VOTER REGISTRATION AND NONPARTISAN BALLOT EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR CONFINED VOTERS IN COLORADO'S 61 COUNTY JAILS. * IN MAINE, COMMON CAUSE MOBILIZED THE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO MAINE BECOMING THE LATEST STATE TO PASS THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE COMPACT.- IN NEBRASKA, COMMON CAUSE DELIVERED A HUGE VICTORY FOR RETURNING CITIZENS BY PASSING A BILL THAT ENDS THE ARBITRARY TWO-YEAR WAITING PERIOD FOR NEBRASKANS TO REGAIN THEIR VOTING RIGHTS. AFTER A LONG LEGAL BATTLE, THE LAW WAS IN PLACE AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY.- IN NEW JERSEY, WE HELPED TO PASS AN ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK THAT ESTABLISHES PRE-REGISTRATION FOR 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS.- DURING THIS TIME OF ENHANCED CONCERNS OVER THE THREAT OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WE FOCUSED ON LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO CREATE NEW RULES TO PROTECT VOTERS AND ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS. * IN COLORADO, WE HELP TO GET THE SENSITIVE SPACES ACT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. THIS NEW LAW BANS FIREARMS FROM POLLING PLACES. * IN MARYLAND, WE HELPED TO PUSH THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN PROTECTING ELECTION OFFICIALS ACT OF 2024. THIS LAW CREATES A NEW MISDEMEANOR CHARGE FOR THOSE WHO THREATEN ELECTION OFFICIALS OR THEIR FAMILIES. * IN NEW MEXICO, COMMON CAUSE WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS TO PASS A LAW THAT BANNED OPENLY CARRIED FIREARMS INSIDE POLLING PLACES. WE ALSO WORKED WITH STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE STATE'S BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE, STABLE FUNDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ELECTION FUND.- IN OREGON, WE HELPED TO DELIVER A SUITE OF PRO-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATION THAT INCLUDES: * CLARIFYING THE RULES FOR CASTING OREGON STATE ELECTORAL VOTES TO PROTECT AGAINST FAKE ELECTOR SCHEMES; * EXPANDING TRANSLATION OF THE VOTERS' PAMPHLET TO MORE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN OREGON TO HELP ALL OREGONIANS MEANINGFULLY ACCESS ESSENTIAL VOTING INFORMATION; AND * INCLUDING FUNDING FOR OREGON ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES IN THE STATE'S BUDGET.- COMMON CAUSE HAS BLOCKED ARTICLE V CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION EFFORTS. DURING THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, COMMON CAUSE TRACKED 125 ARTICLE V APPLICATION BILLS ACROSS 40 STATES RESULTING IN THE DEFEAT OF EVERYONE. COMMON CAUSE LED EFFORTS TO RESCIND ARTICLE V CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION CALL IN MONTANA.

IN MULTIPLE STATES, COMMON CAUSE WORKS TO SHAPE LAWS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE'S VOICES AND CHOICES ARE NOT DROWNED OUT BY WEALTHY SPECIAL INTERESTS. WE ALSO WORK TO PASS AND PROTECT STRONG ETHICS LAWS THAT HOLD ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND THOSE IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACCOUNTABLE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE:- IN NEW MEXICO, WE HELPED TO PASS A BILL THAT REQUIRED SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES TO REPORT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND SPENDING OVER $1,000, INCREASING TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY IN OUR ELECTIONS.- AFTER A LONG AND SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN, COMMON CAUSE FINALLY HELPED TO BRING NEEDED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS TO OREGON, INCLUDING THE IMPOSITION OF CONTRIBUTIONS LIMITS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.