To: Senate President Donald Williams, Speaker Brendan Sharkey, The Connecticut State House, The Connecticut State Senate, and Governor Ned Lamont
An Attack on Democracy in Connecticut
Protect Connecticut's Democracy. Reject the Cross-Endorsement Ban.
Why is this important?
Last year, more than 30 states proposed laws that would restrict the right to vote, restrict ballot access and hamper democracy. But luckily not Connecticut. From our landmark Citizens’ Election Program to our adoption of Election Day and online voter registration, Connecticut has always been a leader when it comes to guaranteeing a transparent, participatory and responsive democracy.
That's why it's so alarming to see one bill advance in Connecticut that would be a major blow to our democracy. The bill, SB 1146, which would ban cross-endorsement, was recently passed in committee in the legislature, but we've got to stop it.
Under the cross-endorsement system, familiar to most Connecticut voters, minor parties can support either their own candidate or the candidate of a major party. This is healthy for democracy. Banning cross-endorsement would narrow the electoral process, limit voter choices, and discourage voter participation, especially from voters who don't feel well-represented already, like students, immigrants and low-income voters.
More than 80,000 people voted on a minor party line for a cross-endorsed candidate in 2012. There's no justification for limiting the choices and expression of those voters.
The legislature would do our democracy and our citizens a serious disservice if it passes this proposal. Please join me in calling on the legislature to shelve it immediately.
Thank you for all you do,
Miles Rapoport, Former Secretary of the State of Connecticut and President of Demos
That's why it's so alarming to see one bill advance in Connecticut that would be a major blow to our democracy. The bill, SB 1146, which would ban cross-endorsement, was recently passed in committee in the legislature, but we've got to stop it.
Under the cross-endorsement system, familiar to most Connecticut voters, minor parties can support either their own candidate or the candidate of a major party. This is healthy for democracy. Banning cross-endorsement would narrow the electoral process, limit voter choices, and discourage voter participation, especially from voters who don't feel well-represented already, like students, immigrants and low-income voters.
More than 80,000 people voted on a minor party line for a cross-endorsed candidate in 2012. There's no justification for limiting the choices and expression of those voters.
The legislature would do our democracy and our citizens a serious disservice if it passes this proposal. Please join me in calling on the legislature to shelve it immediately.
Thank you for all you do,
Miles Rapoport, Former Secretary of the State of Connecticut and President of Demos