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This Is What Democracy Looks Like

Sarah Holder

October 09, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Effective visual messaging doesn’t just make political candidates stand out, it can also entice unlikely voters to the polls. The key is to pick up on what people respond to and take risks, including by hiring design firms new to election work.

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Thousands of South Africans join GovChat

Vernon Pillay

October 04, 2018 |

IOL Business Report |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: South Africa

GovChat is the world's first platform that connects citizens with politicians via WhatsApp. It allows citizens to rate public services and report issues, submit service requests, and donate to community organizations. Thousands of people registered and began using the platform within the first 72 hours.

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"Integrity Idol"

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

October 02, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nepal

With support from Accountability Lab and Transparency International, seven countries have held “Integrity Idol” contests to recognize their most honest and helpful public servants. Winners have become people others want to emulate. The contests help fight corruption and inspire civic participation.

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Voter ID tied to lower Wisconsin turnout; students, people of color, elderly most affected

Cameron Smith

September 30, 2018 |

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wisconsin

Voter ID laws may reduce voter turnout, enough to change election results. For example, according to a UW-Madison study, thousands of people in Dane and Milwaukee counties did not vote in the 2016 presidential election because of confusion over new voter ID requirements or a lack of proper identification. Meanwhile, voter fraud, the justification for such voter ID laws, has been found to be a largely overblown fear by a federal judge.

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A Grassroots Call to Ban Gerrymandering

Erick Trickey

September 23, 2018 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lansing, Michigan

In Michigan, a group of people decided they were done with gerrymandering: a political process in which district maps are redrawn to favor one party over another. They formed a group called “Voters Not Politicians,” and did what no one thought they would be able to do. “The crowdsourced campaign held 33 town-hall meetings in 33 days, wrote a ballot proposal to give redistricting powers to a citizens’ commission” and “collected 425,000 petition signatures in four months to secure a spot on Michigan’s ballot—a rare feat, usually accomplished only by hiring paid signature gatherers.”

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Governments are using games to engage citizens — but beware before you play

Jennifer Guay

September 19, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: China, Suining

Games can make policymaking more participatory and push citizens to change their behavior in public, and private, spaces. To keep engagement high, governments should change the games periodically and include both online and offline elements, says Gianluca Sgueo, author of Games, Power and Democracies.

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This new coalition protects protesters' right to civil disobedience

Ben Paynter

September 19, 2018 |

FastCompany |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Protect the Protest is an initiative created by more than 20 of the world’s largest nonprofits to address SLAPP lawsuits. SLAPPs often target nonprofits and activists in order to derail them from protesting. “The goals are to communicate about common types of SLAPP suits and how to avoid or dismiss them, campaign together when such salvos are lobbed against both Protect the Protect members and smaller pods of activists or organizers that might not have the resources to defend themselves.”

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'It's a revolution': Indian officials deliver public services at people's doorsteps

Amrit Dhillon

September 17, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, New Delhi

To reduce corruption, the Delhi government has begun delivering public services to residents’ doorsteps. Now it’s possible to get a driver license, marriage certificate, and more from the comfort of home—no long lines or bribes required.

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How environmental justice is shaping a new civil rights movement in the South

Katherine Webb-Hehn

September 12, 2018 |

Southerly |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Armed with data, local activists are taking on environmental justice campaigns. In the absence of action on the part of the Federal Government, local organizations in Mississippi and across the South are working to increase transparency, generate data on public health issues, and mobilize action on climate change.

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Kyrgyzstan wants transparency to curb corruption

Nicolas Zahn

September 11, 2018 |

GovInsider |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is using technology to tackle corruption and reduce costs. The country is centralizing and digitizing government services with help from Estonia. It is also using biometrics in elections to reduce the chances of rigged ballots and build public trust.

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