Common Cause

COMMON CAUSE IS A NONPARTISAN, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING THE CORE VALUES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. WE WORK TO ENSURE OPEN, HONEST, AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT; TO PROMOTE EQUAL RIGHTS, OPPORTUNITY, AND REPRESENTATION FOR ALL; AND TO EMPOWER ALL PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AS EQUALS IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. COMMON CAUSE WORKS ACROSS FOUR MAJOR ISSUE AREAS: VOTING AND ELECTIONS; MONEY AND POLITICS; ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY; AND MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY.

VOTING AND ELECTIONS: COMMON CAUSE LED OR SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS PRO-VOTER LAWS:- IN COLORADO, WE SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHED COLORADO AS THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO EXPAND AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION TO TRIBAL NATIONS.- IN CONNECTICUT, WE HELPED PASS THE STRONGEST STATE VOTING RIGHTS LAWS IN THE COUNTRY THAT WILL LAUNCH A "PRECLEARANCE" PROGRAM TO PROTECT VOTERS OF COLOR FROM HARMFUL IMPACTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION CHANGES; PROVIDE NEW LEGAL TOOLS TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATORY VOTING RULES IN COURT; EXPAND LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE FOR VOTERS; CREATE STRONG PROTECTIONS AGAINST VOTER INTIMIDATION, DECEPTION, AND OBSTRUCTION; AND ESTABLISH A CENTRAL HUB FOR ELECTION DATA.- IN ILLINOIS, WE MOVED AND HELPED PASS AN ELECTIONS OMNIBUS BILL THAT ESTABLISHES PRE-REGISTRATION FOR 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS AND AN ELECTION HOLIDAY FOR ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO SECURED A BIG WIN ON ENDING PRISON GERRYMANDERING.- COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO HELPED PASS THE NM VOTING RIGHTS ACT.COMMON CAUSE HAS ALSO BLOCKED OR MITIGATED ANTI-VOTER EFFORTS:- IN ARIZONA, WE SECURED A GUBERNATORIAL VETO OF HB2560/SB1324, WHICH WOULD HAVE RELEASED THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF EVERY VOTER, SUCH AS FULL NAME, ADDRESS, YEAR OF BIRTH, PRECINCT, AND BALLOT IMAGES, BEFORE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION. - IN DELAWARE, WE PREVENTED THE PASSAGE OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ("LLC") VOTING BILL THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN CORPORATIONS AND LLCS VOTING RIGHTS IN SEAFORD, DE.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.WE LAUNCHED A JUSTICE & DEMOCRACY PROGRAM. WE LEAD NATIONAL COALITIONS AND WORK ON STATE LEGISLATION TO SECURE VOTING RIGHTS FOR INCARCERATED OR PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

MEDIA & DEMOCRACY AND OTHER: - COMMON CAUSE COLLECTED STORIES FROM MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM (ACP) TO PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. THESE PERSONAL STORIES OF IMPACT, INCLUDING PEOPLE ON RESERVATIONS, IN RURAL AREAS, AND IN URBAN AREAS NEEDING ACP TO ACCESS MEDICAL CARE, JOB POSTINGS, AND NEWS, WERE DOCUMENTED IN COMMON CAUSE'S OFFICIAL COMMENT LETTER TO THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION IN MAY 2023.- WE CHAMPIONED THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICAN DATA PRIVACY AND PROTECTION ACT OUT OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE. THE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES COMPREHENSIVE PRIVACY AND DATA SECURITY PROTECTIONS. - IN FLORIDA, WE HELPED DEFEAT THE DEFAMATION, FALSE LIGHT, AND UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION OF NAME OR LIKENESSES BILL, A DANGEROUS BILL THAT WOULD HAVE DIRECTLY ATTACKED THE ABILITY OF JOURNALISTS AND ORDINARY CITIZENS TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.- WE MANAGE AND DISTRIBUTE THE DEMOCRACY SCORECARD WHICH RANKS THE POSITIONS OF ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON 15-20 KEY DEMOCRACY REFORM BILLS/VOTES, WHICH HELPS ADD MORE COSPONSORS TO THE COLLECTIVE BILLS WE INCLUDED.

MONEY IN POLITICS & ETHICS: 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 2022, WE HELPED PASS A CALIFORNIA LAW THAT LIMITS SPECIAL-INTEREST CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ONE THAT STRENGTHENS THE STATE'S LOBBYING REPORTING. WE ALSO CAMPAIGNED TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE OAKLAND FAIR ELECTIONS ACT, ESTABLISHING DEMOCRACY DOLLAR PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FUNDING.- IN JANUARY 2023, COMMON CAUSE MEMBERS LAUNCHED A HERCULEAN EFFORT, INCLUDING COLLECTING OVER 91,000 SIGNATURES ON A PETITION, TO HELP SUCCESSFULLY STOP ATTEMPTS TO GUT THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS (OCE) AN INDEPENDENT HOUSE ETHICS WATCHDOG THAT COMMON CAUSE WORKED TO CREATE IN 2008. - IN MAY 2023, COMMON CAUSE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION AT A HEARING ENTITLED, "AMERICAN CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS: PROTECTING POLITICAL SPEECH."- IN MARYLAND, WE SUPPORTED LEGISLATION TO BAN CRYPTO-CURRENCY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.- IN HAWAII, COMMON CAUSE HELPED PASS LAWS THAT REQUIRE LOBBYISTS TO REPORT THE SPECIFIC BILL THEY DISCUSSED WITH OFFICIALS, MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR LOBBYISTS TO GIVE GIFTS, AND LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CASH A CAMPAIGN CAN ACCEPT FROM A SINGLE PERSON DURING EACH ELECTION PERIOD TO $100.

REDISTRICTING & REPRESENTATION: IN MULTIPLE STATES, COMMON CAUSE WORKS TO SHAPE LAWS THAT WILL PROMOTE OPEN, IMPARTIAL AND INCLUSIVE REDISTRICTING LAWS. - FOR EXAMPLE, IN OHIO, AFTER POLITICIANS REPEATEDLY DEFIED THE OHIO SUPREME COURT'S ORDER TO DRAW CONSTITUTIONALLY COMPLIANT REDISTRICTING MAPS, COMMON CAUSE HELPED WRITE THE FAIR DISTRICTS REDISTRICTING BALLOT INITIATIVE THROUGH SUMMER 2023. COMMON CAUSE OHIO IS GATHERING SIGNATURES TO QUALIFY THE INITIATIVE FOR VOTER CONSIDERATION.