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Democracy
USA Advisory
ENHANCING HOMELAND DEMOCRACY The Center for Voting and Democracy launches Democracy USA, an initiative to spark a broad-based pro-democracy movement in America Initiative cites
serious "Democracy Deficit" in the United States; Sets National "Claim
Democracy" Conference for November 21-23, 2003
Washington, DC. – July 15, 2003 – The Center for Voting and Democracy (CVD), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about fair election methods, announced today that its Board of Directors, headed by former independent presidential candidate John B. Anderson, has launched “Democracy USA,” This new initiative is designed to celebrate, protect, enhance and exercise the power of the right to vote in the United States.
The Center expects to be a catalyst for a pro-democracy campaign that ultimately draws participation from many national, state and local organizations. Common Cause, Democracy Action Project, Demos, D.C. Vote and U.S. PIRG are among organizations that are joining our call for a national “Claim Democracy” conference in Washington, D.C. on November 21-23.
Commenting on the initiative, CVD’s chairman John Anderson said: “It’s time to focus on enhancing homeland democracy. Our resolution details clearly just how profound a “democracy deficit” we have in our nation – one marked by low and declining voter turnout, poor protection of the right to vote, citizen distrust of the electoral process and distorted representation. We must take urgent steps to strengthen our democracy with a broad-based, multi-pronged campaign. Democracy USA is designed to do exactly that.”
In addition to planning the Claim Democracy conference, Democracy USA will issue regular news releases about the state of American democracy that highlight problems and setbacks in states and actions being taken or considered to address those problems.
To read the resolution and learn about the conference, visit www.DemocracyUSA.org. The website will allow visitors to sign their names to a grassroots “Citizens Declaration” in support of the goals and principles of the Democracy USA initiative.
About the Center for Voting and Democracy (CVD): The Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located outside Washington, D.C. The Center is dedicated to fair elections where every vote counts and all voters are represented. As a catalyst for reform, CVD conducts research, analysis, education and advocacy to build understanding of and support for more democratic voting systems. The Center promotes full representation as an alternative to winner-take-all elections and instant runoff voting as an alternative to plurality elections and traditional runoff elections. For more information, visit www.fairvote.org . -End- |
