We have some major updates and movement from Washington D.C., Idaho and Arizona.
Thousands of signatures are coming in to support local initiatives and this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much work to be done. Our Founder Eric attended the Braver Angels Convention in Wisconsin and we committed, once again, to work together in a way that honors the dignity inherent in every fellow human -- even, and perhaps especially, those with whom we vehemently disagree.
We also are clear eyed that the American people are not the problem; byzantine political structures that protect politicians from competition and deprive voters of real choices are. Let's get to work!
Washington D.C. Updates
Last week, the YES on 83 Campaign submitted 8,528 petitions that contain over 40,000 signatures from District of Columbia voters to the D.C. Board of Elections.
“Yes on 83” campaign lead and Veterans for All Voters volunteer Lisa D.T. Rice, held a press conference to highlight the campaign's successful signature gathering effort… they got over 40,000 signatures and have more than enough to qualify for the November ballot! Lisa did a fantastic job speaking and fielding questions from the audience.
The Purple Principle visited #washingtondc to speak with election reformer Lisa D.T. Rice and the Make All Votes Count DC team working to gather signatures for Initiative 83 - an effort to open primaries to roughly 73,000 independent voters and enact ranked choice voting in general elections. During the video, we see the team gathering signatures at the DC #prideparade earlier this month. Lisa D.T. Rice - Proposer of Initiative 83 - shares how initiative 83 will change politics for the better, and the challenges of changing the status quo.
If enough signatures are found to be valid, Initiative 83 would appear on the November ballot — and if voters approve it, I-83 could shake up D.C. elections. Under the proposal, the primaries would be opened up to thousands more people, and the tabulation of votes on election night would be changed.
Currently, more than 70,000 registered independents can’t participate in any primaries, including the Democratic primary, which in deep-blue D.C. is often the decisive race. Meanwhile, ranked-choice voting would allow voters to rank candidates by preference, a method intended to ensure that the winner receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
Idaho Updates
Idahoans for Open Primaries Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot
The Idaho Secretary of State's Office announced today that the Idahoans for Open Primaries initiative has met the statutory requirements to appear on the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot.
Idaho’s Open Primaries coalition submitted almost 100,000 signatures to the Secretary of State, qualifying the Open Primaries Initiative for the November ballot. It was a great event on the steps of the capitol. Veterans for Idaho Voters was there in force, including our own Todd Achilles and Scott Schmick (USMC, 2007-2012), who was one of the six speakers.
Watch now: Idahoans for Open Primaries deliver boxes from every county in Idaho filled with signatures to deliver to the Idaho Secretary of State at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
Arizona Updates
Make Elections Fair Arizona Files 580,000+ Signatures to Qualify for the 2024 General Election Ballot
The Make Elections Fair committee is thrilled to announce that thanks to your unwavering support and dedication, the Make Elections Fair committee will be submitting over 580,000 signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State, officially qualifying for the 2024 General Election ballot. Arizonans may get a chance in November to make what could be an earth-shattering change in state politics: An initiative filed Wednesday would eliminate partisan primaries.
Our VAV Arizona State Volunteer, Ray Kimball was in attendance (pictured above).
If approved by voters in November, the Make Elections Fair act would eliminate Arizona’s traditional, partisan primary system — largely dominated by partisan votes for Republican and Democratic nominees for major statewide and legislative offices. Even independent voters must request a partisan ballot to participate in those primary elections.
Braver Angels Convention - Kenosha, Wisconsin: June 27th - June 29th
Veterans for All Voters Co-Founder Eric Bronner, along with Wisconsin Task Force Leaders, Mark Pfost, Kevin Miller, and Mike Pech were in Kenosha Wisconsin along with over 750 delegates for the Braver Angels National Convention -- An equal mix of Republicans and Democrats and many Independent Voters, like me. We all watched the Presidential Debate together. We attended debates and seminars and film screenings, together. And, we committed, once again, to work together in a way that honors the dignity that's inherent in every fellow human -- Even those with whom we vehemently disagree. We call this the "Braver Angels Way."
VAV Happy Hour & Majority Rules NYC Film Screening
We had about several volunteers and supporters from VAV attend the Majority Rules premiere in NYC, hosted by UniteNY. VAV New York Task Force Lead Seamus Murphy got to meet volunteers in person, and is looking forward to getting things moving in New York over the next few months! At the movie screening, Seamus was able to meet with Founder and Director of Unite NY, Martin Babinec, and VAV represented a sizable portion of the attendees. Also in attendance was our Board Member, Former CEO @ IAVA and Navy Veteran, Jeremy Butler as well as our Chief of Staff, Alex Littell.
Canvassing for Ithaca RCV & Open Primary Ballot Initiative
The City of Ithaca requires 600 signatures, and our larger team secured 900. They confidently submitted 668 to the City of Ithaca on July 3rd. NY Task Force Lead, Seamus Murphy canvassed with Paul Vermette, a veteran from Cornell who is starting an MS in Information Science this fall at the university.
Veterans for Colorado Voters on Display as a vendor at the Colorado Veterans Project: Freedom 4-Miller Patriotic Run
On June 29th, 2024 in Lone Tree, Colorado, Task Force Leaders Greg Moore, Brendan O'Brien, and William Morgenstern planted the VAV flag and spoke with veterans and supporters about our mission.
News and Articles
Imagine this: A general election with no negative campaigning and four or five viable candidates (regardless of party affiliation) competing based on their own personal ideas and actions — not simply their level of obstruction or how well they demonize their opponents. In this reformed election process, the candidate with the best ideas and the broadest appeal will win. The result: The exhausted majority will finally be well-represented again.
Gallup's Latest Poll: 51% of Americans now consider themselves politically independent.
Recollections
A letter from General Wainright issued to troops demobilizing after WWII
"Back in civilian life you will find that your generation will he called upon to guide our country's destiny. Opportunity for leadership is yours. The responsibility is yours. The nation which depended on your courage and stamina to protect it from its enemies now expects you as individuals to claim your right lo leadership, a right which you earned honorably and which is well deserved."
"Remember, too, that No American can afford to be disinterested in any part of his government, whether it is county, city, state or nation. Choose your leaders wisely - that is the way to keep ours the country for which you
fought."
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