Thank you, Lauren, for sharing good and important news. I can report that here in MO, against the protests of thousands of us in our state Capitol, our legislature did pass an (in my opinion) illegal gerrymandered voting map last week. But the good news is that we have a mechanism in our state constitution that allows us to gather signatures on a citizens’ veto petition. Of course, I will be doing that!
The awful truth is that in the same session, our legislature also passed a bill to sabotage our state constitutional right for citizens to pass laws by petition. Fortunately, because it’s overturning a state constitutional amendment, it must be voted on by the citizens. You would think people wouldn’t vote to give up their rights, but because the legislature uses deceptive language (lies!), it has happened before! It is up to us to educate voters and get them to the polls.
Lauren is so right about people that are totally invested in Taylor and Travis, but willfully ignore the destruction of their rights. Here in Missouri, our R supermajority is hell-bent on taking away every lever of control the people have over it. That’s why I’m here sparking hard to build coalitions that will last. Go League of Women Voters! Go Mormon Women!
We had a similar situation with deceptive language on a ballot initiative which we challenged in court and won so even though it was too late to remove it from the ballots, the ruling stated that the results would be null and void.
Wonderful piece! Happy to have Utah’s gerrymandering journey shared on such a large platform. Living in Utah has been extremely frustrating. It doesn’t feel like we are properly represented.
I appreciate hearing about all of the examples of effective, little d democracy. But for Pete’s sake, how can you lump California in with Texas, Missouri, Ohio and Florida, when California’s new redistricting is subject to a vote of the people AND only becomes effective to counter other states’ bad behavior?
This is the good news I needed today. It’s so easy to feel the walls of my own area close in and lose perspective. Reading about people across the nation still actively fighting for democracy is a view I’m grateful for.
I voted for that iniative and was furious with our republican super majority legislature when they found a way to completely disregard the will of the voters.
I am grateful to the Mormon Women for Ethical Geovernment and others that filed lawsuits and Judge Gibson that had the courage to rule to defend the state's constitution.
I am so tempted to shut all the awful new out. Everything feels so hopeless sometimes.
I’m so interested in seeing what happens in SLC/Utah next year in their elections. I have family in the SLC area and they feel like their votes don’t matter because of the districting.
Every single bad thing happening in this country is because we had enough ignorant people to vote for trump because they thought he would help them. A man who has never in his life cared for anyone but himself and his rich minions. How they could be so ignorant will remain a mystery to me, but I hate them with every fiber of my being.
I needed this. Thank you. I have also been heartened by the grand juries who are refusing to indict citizens who are challenging ICE and challenging this administration.
Thank you, Lauren, for sharing good and important news. I can report that here in MO, against the protests of thousands of us in our state Capitol, our legislature did pass an (in my opinion) illegal gerrymandered voting map last week. But the good news is that we have a mechanism in our state constitution that allows us to gather signatures on a citizens’ veto petition. Of course, I will be doing that!
The awful truth is that in the same session, our legislature also passed a bill to sabotage our state constitutional right for citizens to pass laws by petition. Fortunately, because it’s overturning a state constitutional amendment, it must be voted on by the citizens. You would think people wouldn’t vote to give up their rights, but because the legislature uses deceptive language (lies!), it has happened before! It is up to us to educate voters and get them to the polls.
Lauren is so right about people that are totally invested in Taylor and Travis, but willfully ignore the destruction of their rights. Here in Missouri, our R supermajority is hell-bent on taking away every lever of control the people have over it. That’s why I’m here sparking hard to build coalitions that will last. Go League of Women Voters! Go Mormon Women!
We had a similar situation with deceptive language on a ballot initiative which we challenged in court and won so even though it was too late to remove it from the ballots, the ruling stated that the results would be null and void.
Go, Becky!
Loved this one—GO VOTERS!! (& Thanks Ms Pinkston!)
Excellent roundup of examples of ways voters can organize and win. This is what people are needing right now: inspiration and hope.
Wonderful piece! Happy to have Utah’s gerrymandering journey shared on such a large platform. Living in Utah has been extremely frustrating. It doesn’t feel like we are properly represented.
Utahn here! So happy to have something to be proud of here!!! A win for democracy!
I appreciate hearing about all of the examples of effective, little d democracy. But for Pete’s sake, how can you lump California in with Texas, Missouri, Ohio and Florida, when California’s new redistricting is subject to a vote of the people AND only becomes effective to counter other states’ bad behavior?
I love posts that share hope. It is up to we the people to fight for our Democracy.
Needed this spark of hope this morning! Thank you!
This is the good news I needed today. It’s so easy to feel the walls of my own area close in and lose perspective. Reading about people across the nation still actively fighting for democracy is a view I’m grateful for.
I voted for that iniative and was furious with our republican super majority legislature when they found a way to completely disregard the will of the voters.
I am grateful to the Mormon Women for Ethical Geovernment and others that filed lawsuits and Judge Gibson that had the courage to rule to defend the state's constitution.
I am so tempted to shut all the awful new out. Everything feels so hopeless sometimes.
Thank you for this article.
I’m so interested in seeing what happens in SLC/Utah next year in their elections. I have family in the SLC area and they feel like their votes don’t matter because of the districting.
Every single bad thing happening in this country is because we had enough ignorant people to vote for trump because they thought he would help them. A man who has never in his life cared for anyone but himself and his rich minions. How they could be so ignorant will remain a mystery to me, but I hate them with every fiber of my being.
I needed this. Thank you. I have also been heartened by the grand juries who are refusing to indict citizens who are challenging ICE and challenging this administration.