Our latest publication, Resuscitating Democracy: Competition, Pluralism, and Representation in Florida is available here for download until our new website is up.

We are a non-partisan group of concerned citizens recognizing the need for electoral reforms to enrich and expand democracy in our state and nation. In addition to advocacy, we seek to provide education on electoral reform and the policy solutions necessary to realize it.

The necessity for this effort is evident in a sampling of a few current conditions of our political environment:

• Over the last 44 years, 93% of incumbents have been re-elected to the U.S. House, on average. In 2008, it was 94% (Center for Responsive Politics, 2008).
• The U.S. Senate has averaged 87% over the same time period.
• In 2008, all federal candidates combined raised $5.3 BILLION in their runs for office. Contributors giving more than $200 represented only 0.5% of the population (Center for Responsive Politics, 2008).
• In Florida, the closed primary system provides the privilege of taxpayer funded primary elections for self-legislated "major" parties, yet 2.5 million unaffiliated voters cannot vote in these primaries, despite paying the same taxes.
• In 2004, 11 of 22 Florida Senate races were run uncontested, and 51 out of 120 for the Florida House (Jacksonville Times-Union, 2004).

Stagnation, lack of access, and monopolistic practices are not the qualities of a pluralistic, competitive, and representative democracy. We are working towards a vibrant democracy with accessibility for the average person, a competitive political environment, and pluralism in policy and decision making.

Coming soon to this page:

1) Our policy document following up our first Civic Forum on Electoral Reform. This paper will provide various proposals for reform and will be offered to sitting and aspiring decision makers.

2) Panel answers to audience questions that we did not have time to answer.

3) A link redirecting you to our new official website.