Rhizome’s Post

Did you know that every election cycle, Ballotpedia produces a Legislative Competitiveness Report? The competitiveness of elections in each state is quantified based on the number of open seats, incumbents in contested primaries, and general elections with Democrat and Republican candidates running head-to-head. In 2022, the least competitive state was Massachusetts. In 2020, the least competitive state was also Massachusetts. And in 2018, the least competitive state was again Massachusetts. Guess what the least competitive state was in 2016? You guessed it -- Massachusetts. Nevertheless, this year some Massachusetts voters will have the luxury of choosing between multiple candidates. Today we are releasing our ballot guide for the following contested State Representative positions in Middlesex County: - 12th District (Newton & Brookline) - 25th District (Cambridge) - 27th District (Somerville) - 35th District (Medford & Malden) Check out our website to view the ballot guides. We will be posting many more in the coming weeks!

It is surprisingly difficult to (1) quickly identify what voting district(s) you live in and (2) learn about who is running to be your elected official. For my neighbors in Massachusetts, this link should help with (1): https://lnkd.in/ercQkf5s Check out Stump's website for (2).

Featured Event: Black voters and the complexity of race and politics in the 2024 elections Black voters have increasingly been identified as a pivotal Democratic voting bloc in critical state and federal elections, with over 85% voting for Democratic candidates in recent national, state, and local elections Despite overwhelming support for Democratic candidates, Black voters hold a range of ideologies; they are conservative, moderate, liberal, and progressive, and approximately 10% of Black voters consistently vote for Republican candidates. Is there waning enthusiasm for Democrats in the Black community? If yes, what is causing this shift in partisan support? If not, what makes Black voters of different ideologies vote consistently for Democratic candidates? What are the two parties doing to address issues of concern to Black voters? Register to join: https://loom.ly/EU4fbHk

Open Primaries + Ranked Choice Voting creates more competitive races and drastically reduces the number of unopposed election runs. This gives people more choice and more voice and we should all support reforms like this. https://lnkd.in/gMSSpcDw

Early voting is happening (again) this week! This is the second election in May for most Dallas residents. In early May, we voted in the Bond Election, ISD Trustee, and Dallas College Trustee elections. This week is early voting for partisan primary run-off elections for county, state, and federal races. It’s a lot for most residents to track, and our voter turnout numbers in all these elections are dismal. If you think we have too many elections AND want to save the City some money, join me in support of moving municipal elections from May of odd-numbered years to November of odd-numbered years. November elections historically have higher turnout, and we’d save the City approximately $500,000 by having the election overlap with the already planned Constitutional Amendment elections in odd-year Novembers. The Chamber, League of Women Voters of Dallas, and many other civic groups support this, as do many individual residents. Let me know if you’d like to support this initiative to increase turnout and save money! #DallasVotes

4th of July Special on RT News - Discussing the American Elections 🇺🇸 I discuss the #Electoral College System in the United States and the modern problems faced by the people of America due to archaic electoral procedures. Secondly I point out the disadvantages of the #winner-take-all system that may also include: i. Severe under-representation of women, communities of color, third parties, young people, and major party backers stuck in areas where another party dominates. Winner-take-all election systems do nothing to provide representation to any group making up less than half of the population in a given voting district, and the high percentage of the vote needed to win election can be a severe barrier to minority candidates. ii. Since many areas are dominated by a single political viewpoint, winner-take-all voting systems will often result in no-choice elections where one party has a permanent monopoly on power, and the winner is effectively predetermined. In the United States, two in five state legislative races go uncontested as a result, and nearly 99% of congressional incumbents win reelection by large margins. iii. High percentages of “wasted votes” (that is, votes cast for candidates who do not win). Winner-take-all elections frequently result in more than 50% of votes being wasted. More voters will be represented by someone who they did not help to elect than under any other system. #democracy #republic #elections #Biden #Trump

This simple, yet powerful reform will strengthen our democracy. Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a reform that seeks to make elections fairer for voters. Unlike most American elections, which only allow voters to select one candidate, RCV gives voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference: first, second, third, and so on. In the single-winner version of RCV, if a candidate receives more than half of voters’ first choices, that candidate wins, just like in any other election. However, if there is no majority winner after counting first choices, the race is decided by an “instant runoff.” The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate as “No. 1” will have their votes count for their next choice. This process continues until there is a majority winner – a candidate who earns more than half of the votes. https://lnkd.in/ehNkgmDS

Yesterday, Americans across 16 states and one territory (American Samoa) voted in the largest single day of primary elections in the 2024 cycle, known as “Super Tuesday.” #SuperTuesday is important for many reasons, but it is not necessarily the most representative process for selecting candidates. Is it time to rethink how candidates are chosen? What is the impact of primary elections on #democracy? Read the latest #DemocracyNotes blog 🖋 by Seema Shah ⬇️ #ProtectElections https://lnkd.in/gfuywbA5

Good Monday morning. I have been helping my daughter in her campaign for State Representative it made me think about the importance of Primary Elections. So many times voter turnout is very poor. Do you Realize the Importance of Voting in Primary Elections? M Often voters do not realize the importance of primary elections. In the political world. You must realize the primaries determine who will be on the ballot in the general election. It is your opportunity to have a voice, in who will represent you from the beginning of the election. When you vote in the primaries, it allows you to influence the party's platform. It helps determine what candidates will prioritize in the election process. It allows fresh new faces and new ideas to emerge. In partisan districts, the primary may well decide who wins the election. Making primary voters even more powerful and impactful. Primary election voters ensure the candidates who make it to the general election. Reflect diversity and opinions supported by the party. This allows individuals to contribute to the future of their communities. To keep being a democratic society. You must realize every vote helps shape our communities. Remember, engage, and vote in your primary elections. See less

GOTV Case Study: The Georgia Senate Runoff The importance of voter outreach and ballot collection programs is further exemplified by the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff elections. The DNC's investment in these efforts was a significant factor in the Democratic Party's victories in both Senate races. The DNC's focus on voter registration, mobilization, and ballot collection resulted in record-breaking voter turnout, ultimately swinging the election in the Democrats' favor. To avoid a similar outcome in future elections, the GOP must match the DNC's investment in these critical areas. By doing so, the Republican Party can ensure that it remains competitive and that the values that have made America great continue to be represented in the highest levels of government.