Democracy Dogs!
Our elections are OURS.
Given the general disgust with local, state and national party politics, the time is ripe to form a coalition of like-minded voters who demand changes to how we elect candidates for public office. Consider:
Private money in our elections poisons our government: 72% of respondents rated “money in politics” the chief problem in America (2025 Pew Research survey). SuperPACs, Corporate PACs and donations to parties and candidates openly buy influence in our government.
People are disillusioned with party politics: 45% of respondents are unaffiliated Independents vs. 27% each for Democrats and Republicans, while over 54% born since 1981 are Independents (2026 Gallop poll). Yet the two dominant parties continue to function as gatekeepers, limiting choices in general elections.
Gerrymandering disenfranchises voters and stifles competition: In 2024, only 24 of 435 House seats were considered true toss-ups. That’s why 77% of American voters support independent commissions to draw district lines instead of state lawmakers (Common Cause poll, 2025).
People favor a national popular vote for presidents: 63% of respondents want to get rid of the Electoral College, in favor of a national popular vote (Pew Research Center, 2024). Until then, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is currently adopted by 18 states plus DC that will pledge their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote. The compact is currently under consideration in PA.
Pennsylvania remains a closed primary state: 77% of registered Pennsylvania voters favor open primary elections allowing Independents to participate in primaries. 31% said this change would also make them more likely to leave their current party (2024 Franklin & Marshall poll). Yet Pennsylvania remains one of only eight closed primary states.
Ranked choice voting reflects the true will of the majority: In primaries and general elections with more than two candidates, it’s not unusual for the top vote getter to get a plurality (less than 50%) rather than a majority (50%+). Often most people voted against rather than for the winner. Ranked choice voting would encourage more candidates to run and make voters more confident about voting their values rather than choosing a pragmatic, safe vote. Ranked choice is also under consideration in PA state legislature.
The two dominant parties dictate who runs in the general election by controlling primary outcomes: Prior the 1890s-early 1900s, candidates were chosen by party bosses and delegates in meetings or conventions and simply announced to the public. States turned away from that process and began having primaries to allow voters to participate in selecting candidates that get on the general election ballot. But through various methods (endorsing during ballot petition period, before the primary), local and state party committees have taken de facto control of the process to block candidates in favor of ones chosen by establishment leaders.