More Equitable Democracy

In Episode 2 of the Future of our Former Democracy, Colin and Heather dive into the rise and fall of Germany’s first democracy.

Listen to the episode: www.equitabledemocracy.org/the-future-o...

TOMORROW: we’re back with a brand new season of our award-winning podcast, The Future of Our Former Democracy!

In this season, we dive into what post-WWII Germany did to stop extremism in their country — and what that means for the U.S. today. Tune in tomorrow!

play.megaphone.fm/jje8qgvlr3ih...

The Nation’s Most Democratic State Might Elect a Trump-Friendly Governor - The American Prospect California’s nonpartisan primary pits eight Democrats against two Republicans; only the top two finishers advance. Do the math.

There are undemocratic electoral systems… and then there’s this: a top-two “jungle primary” that could knock Democrats off the ballot in the country’s most Democratic state.

It’s exactly the opposite of true proportional representation. prospect.org/2026/02/09/c...

American Troubles: A Tale of Two Democracies A gripping documentary that journeys from the streets of Belfast to the ballots of Portland, tracing the roots of political division and the promise of healing. By exploring how proportional representation helped end decades of conflict in Northern Ireland — and how it’s reshaping local politics in parts of the U.S.— this film reveals a powerful path forward for American democracy. Can the key to fixing our broken politics be found in the lessons of another divided nation? Join us for a provocative look at the systems that divide—and those that unite.

📆 Save the date for the premiere of “American Troubles: A Tale of Two Democracies” on 3/17! Can the key to fixing our broken politics be found in the lessons of another divided nation? Join us for a provocative look at the systems that divide—and those that unite. www.youtube.com/watch

🎙️ Season 2 trailer of our award-winning podcast just dropped!

In 'The Future of our Former Democracy’, we examine far-right movements in modern Germany and the U.S. to explore what lessons this history might mean for American democracy.

Listen: play.megaphone.fm/jje8qgvlr3ih...

Attempts to restrict access to the ballot box are undemocratic and un-American. We need a president who will fight to uphold and better our democracy, not add barriers to the ballot box.

#PresidentsDay

As Gen-Z Abandons Labour and the Tories, Should Electoral Reform Be Back On The Agenda? The political climate in the UK has found itself in a period of turmoil. Traditional political coalitions are fracturing under the weight of deepening polarisation, falling living standards and general dissatisfaction with the way things are.

We’re seeing it everywhere: young people are fed up with voting systems that don’t represent them. In the UK, many Gen Z voters are leaving Labour & the Tories because First‑Past‑the‑Post shuts them out.

Electoral reform is essential.
www.trillmag.com/news/politic...

Ted Cruz is outraged that 47% of Virginia voters get 9% of the seats and calls it “an insult to democracy.”

Buddy, wait till you hear about proportional representation — where 47% actually gets you…~47%! Wild concept.

Mid-cycle redistricting. Attacks on voting access. Undermining election legitimacy. This isn’t normal politics — it’s an assault on democracy.

And it’s and exactly why we need real reforms that put voters, not politicians, back in charge.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

When our democracy does not allow every voice to be heard or person to be represented, we get a government that does not speak for the people. Skyrocketing prices are a sign that something needs to change.

Some interesting analysis from Expand Democracy data shows those fighting for democracy reform aren’t chasing quick wins — they’re focused on lasting, structural change that brings REAL representation to our democracy.

Learn more: thefulcrum.us/democracy/de...

Democracy is not intended to exist solely in written form. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. urged us to transform words into action, promises into measurable progress, and participation into genuine power. The responsibility to continue this work remains with us.

From everyone at the MED team, we wish you a merry holiday season! ❄️

We’re not obsessed with ourselves… we’re obsessed with fixing our democracy🤠

Check out our award-winning show wherever you get your podcasts!

open.spotify.com/show/4RLnsgs...

This holiday season, we are thankful for our community that continues the fight for an equitable democracy from local to national levels. The fight continues, as does our gratitude.

Greenbelt, MD voters approve ranked choice voting - FairVote On Tuesday, Greenbelt, Maryland residents voted to use ranked choice voting in local elections. It is now up to the City Council to act.

There was a lot of news on Tuesday — but did you catch that voters in Greenbelt, MD, overwhelmingly approved ranked-choice voting for local elections?

Shout out to friends of MED, @rcvmd.org, for leading this effort.

Way to go, Greenbelt! 👏

Read more: fairvote.org/greenbelt-md...

Democracy only works when it works for all of us.

As we head to the polls today, let’s remember: the fight for fair, inclusive representation doesn’t stop here.

We’re proud to keep building a more equitable democracy, together.

New Publication on Expanding Representation in Congress A new publication, which emerged from the Academy's Our Common Purpose work, proposes alternatives to the “winner-take-all” system used in most U.S. elections. The proposed alternatives have the potential to reduce partisan divides and virtually eliminate gerrymandering.

We say it all the time: our winner-take-all system shuts out millions of voices and needs to change.

A new report shows how multi-member districts and proportional rules could make Congress actually reflect our communities ⬇️ www.amacad.org/news/publica...

Thank you to all who voted! We are thrilled to take home TWO Signal Awards!

🥇Individual Episodes: History
🥈Individual Episodes: Activism, Public Service, & Social Impact

Stream The Future of our Former Democracy wherever you get your podcasts.

How do we end gerrymandering? No surprise, the most common response to the NYT’s mailbag was “proportional representation!”

As the Times writes, PR “would make gerrymandering irrelevant” — and it would do a whole lot more to improve our democracy. Check it out in the @nytimes.com

Last chance to vote for us for the Signal Awards! Cast your votes at the link in our bio.

Cast your votes at
vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting AND vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting

“PR” Should Stand for Proportional Representation, Not Petty Redistricting - R Street Institute America’s system of representative government faces a dire threat. Both major parties are openly racing to redraw congressional maps mid-decade, purely for partisan gain. This gambit undermines the very essence of representative government and ritualizes the process of legislatures—themselves frequently produced by gerrymandered maps—choosing winners instead of the voting public. With more than 7,000 state and federal political...

Let’s face it: none of us win when politicians can draw districts to create fake majorities.
The answer to gerrymandering isn’t more gerrymandering — it’s proportional representation.
A good read here: www.rstreet.org/commentary/p...

🚨 Reminder! 🚨
Our podcast The Future of Our Former Democracy is up for two Signal Awards — and we still need YOUR votes to win! 🏆
If you haven’t voted yet, now’s the time.
👉 Link in bio — let’s show the power of people coming together for a stronger, more equitable democracy.

"The fight for women’s equality is not stalled because women aren’t running for office. It is stalled because our systems are designed to protect incumbents and status quo candidates."

A must-read from Cynthia Richie Terrell @representwomen.bsky.social on PR & RCV: msmagazine.com/2025/08/25/m...

The March on Washington was not just a moment in history—it was a demand for justice that remains unfinished. Decades later, barriers to equity and representation persist. More Equitable Democracy carries this work forward, striving for a democracy that truly includes all of us.

Spring 2025 Democracy Transformation Summit In April 2025, the Democracy Transformation Project at Democracy Rising launched its second cohort, bringing together 25 Women of Color democratic leaders working to build political power in their local communities. This powerful gathering centered on members of the inaugural cohort "passing the torch" to the new leaders, as they continue the vital work of transforming our democracy.

“Our democracy is strongest when every voice is heard.”

That’s why MED is proud to uplift our partner We Are Democracy Rising , whose recent summit brought together courageous women leaders to build power, community, and vision for a more just democracy.

www.youtube.com/watch

DC moves one step closer to ranked choice voting - WTOP News This week the D.C. council added funding for ranked choice voting to the 2026 budget, which is set for a vote later this month.

Excited to see DC move closer to implementing ranked-choice voting! RCV isn’t perfect, but it gives voters more choices and makes the entire election process more democratic.

Let’s go DC!🗳️https://wtop.com/dc/2025/07/dc-moves-one-step-closer-to-ranked-choice-voting/

Let's face it: Georgia's runoff elections aren't fun for anyone. They're costly, time-consuming, and usually see a dramatic drop in turnout.

Here's an interesting read from our friends @fairvote.bsky.social on how a switch to RCV in GA could help solve these issues: fairvote.org/georgia-runo...

Frustrated with a “no-show” Congress? Blame winner-take-all elections: op-ed Lawmakers, emboldened by their safe seats in gerrymandered districts, have actively limited engagement with their constituents.

“Lawmakers, emboldened by their safe seats in gerrymandered districts, have actively limited engagement with their constituents.”

That's exactly right. Here's an interesting read on how our broken winner-take-all system has shielded lawmakers from accountability: www.al.com/politics/202...

Charlottesville is gearing up for its first election using ranked choice voting - C-VILLE Weekly Charlottesville’s experiment with proportional ranked choice voting is swiftly approaching, with the Democratic primary for City Council set for June 17. The new (to Charlottesville at least) voting system was adopted on a trial basis in a 4-1 split vote by City Council on September 3, 2024. In the months leading up to the primary, […]

Charlottesville is just a few months away from a major milestone in their democracy: the city’s first election using proportional ranked-choice voting! Congratulations to everyone in Charlottesville who fought to make this happen.

Learn more in C-ville: c-ville.com/charlottesvi...