Democracy Initiatives

Initiatives to advance our democracy by getting big money out of politics are on the ballot in many locations next week. Campaigns to boost voter registration are underway, too.

Maine: A Vote for Fair Elections

Citizens in Maine have the opportunity to counter some of the harm done by the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision and strengthen the state's existing Clean Election Act next Tuesday, by supporting Question 1.

The initiative requires transparency in the political process by requiring outside groups that are spending big money in support of or in opposition to state candidates to disclose their top three donors on all political ads.

It will toughen fines and penalties for those who break Maine's election laws, making candidates accountable to the people. It will strengthen the state's Clean Elections system, weakened by Citizens United, by again enabling candidates who are being outspent by "big bucks" candidates to quality for small-dollar public financing.

CWA has been working with good government and democracy allies to get Question 1 on the ballot and to get out the vote to help Maine residents "reclaim a government of, by and for the people, not a government bought and paid for by ultra-wealthy special interests."

Seattle: Getting Big Money Out of Politics

Seattle voters – in a mail ballot – are voting on whether to establish voluntary public campaign financing for city elections. The initiative would issue four $25 vouchers to registered voters in any given year that can be donated to any candidate who qualifies to participate. Candidates who choose to participate must collect a minimum number of small donations to qualify, then can exchange the vouchers they collect and receive city funds to finance their campaigns.

Other requirements include: caps on spending, limits on private contributions, a ban on fundraising on behalf of any independent groups, and mandatory participation in at least three public debates.

Alaska: Voter Registration

A broad coalition of organizations and activists is gathering signatures for a state ballot initiative to automatically register Alaska citizens to vote as they sign up for the Permanent Fund Dividend. The PFD is paid annually to Alaska citizens, based on the state's oil revenue dividends.

Participating in the effort are AFA-CWA Flight Attendants from Alaska Airlines, members of AFA-CWA Council 30.

In Anchorage, Flight Attendants Thresia Raynor, Jan Batani-Strait and Drew Lemish collect signatures from Alaskan residents supporting "auto" registration.

Flight Attendants meet in crew rooms and break rooms to talk about the benefits of auto voter registration to airline workers, and are excited about their work. Thresia Raynor, who heads the council's government affairs group, said she has yet to come across anyone signing up for payments from the Alaska Permanent Fund who did not also want to be automatically signed up to vote.

Flight Attendant Drew Lemish said, "Change starts at the local level, and the only place to go from here is up." Jan Batini-Strait, another Alaska Flight Attendant, said "By giving those residents in our state the ability to vote, it could definitely change the makeup of the political face in Alaska." Also participating in the effort are environmentalists, civic advocates, Native Alaskan groups and other union members.

California and Oregon already have laws that automatically register people to vote when they get or renew a driver's license or state identification card. Another 15 states and the District of Columbia are considering "automatic" sign up measures for voter registration.