Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 403 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

In California Cities, a New Frontier for Public Financing of Elections

Spenser Mestel

July 13, 2022 |

Bolts |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

To give less affluent political hopefuls a fighting chance in local races, Seattle's "democracy vouchers" program provides each resident with four $25 vouchers to donate to candidates of their choice. The initiative has nearly doubled the number of candidates running for city positions since 2015, and those using the vouchers are more likely than cash donors to be young and low-income, leading other cities, such as Oakland, Calif., to consider adopting similar programs.

Read More
Go to Original Story
One Small Step for Democracy in a ‘Live Free or Die' Town

Dan Barry

July 10, 2022 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Croydon, New Hampshire

We Stand Up for Croydon Students formed as a backlash to severe school budget cuts that resulted from a lack of civic participation among residents. The nonpartisan group collected enough signatures to set a special meeting to overturn the budget and, to get at least 50% of the town’s residents to participate in order for a new vote to be binding, volunteers organized community members through door knocking, phone banks, and lawn signs.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Hawaii's System Of Public Funding For Elections Doesn't Work

Chad Blair

July 10, 2022 |

Honolulu Civil Beat |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Seattle’s Democracy Voucher is an effective, yet underutilized, way to publicly fund political campaigns. The city sends four $25 vouchers to each registered voter, who chooses which candidates they want to receive their vouchers, and the city transfers the funds directly to the campaigns. Since the program started the number of donors increased and many candidates who successfully defeated incumbents had benefited from the program.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Pennsylvania keeps its voter rolls clean and updated

Denise Clay-Murray

June 28, 2022 |

Votebeat |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania uses a comprehensive approach to maintain accurate voter roles. The state is a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center, which is a cross-state database that updates records of voters every 60 days based on interactions with the DMV. In addition, when a registered voter doesn’t vote in two consecutive federal election cycles, they are marked inactive and sent a request to confirm their residency. Those that do not respond with 30 days are removed from the rolls. All 67 counties are required to do annual maintenance of their voter rolls.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A study in contrasts: Low-turnout runoffs vs. Alaska's top-four, all-mail primary

David Meyers

June 23, 2022 |

The Fulcrum |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

Alaska’s first primary election since it instituted a “top four” election system that places all candidates – regardless of party –on the same primary ballot, resulted in a less partisan campaign because people have to appeal to a more diverse group than their base in order to win. The all-mail primary also led to higher voter turnout, the highest since 2014.

Read More
Go to Original Story
D.C. Residents Are Voting from Prison This Week

Kira Lerner

June 20, 2022 |

Bolts |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, District of Columbia

In July 2020, the District became one of three places in the country to grant people who are incarcerated the right to vote. Officials have conducted outreach to people in DC jails to make sure the are aware of their rights and the Board of Elections has provided staff with information and documents they need to ensure people can register to vote.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Residents 13 and up get another pick of city projects to receive funding

Ted Glanzer

June 20, 2022 |

Hartford Courant |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford residents 13 and older can decide how some public funds are spent. The Hartford Decides participatory budgeting initiative considers public input on small capital projects that cost between $10,000 and $25,000 and have a useful life of at least five years. City officials vet the projects for feasibility and those that pass are put on a ballot for the public to vote on. Previous winning projects include improvements to libraries, schools, and other publicly accessible resources. Residents can vote online or in-person and, depending on available funding, two to four projects can win approval.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Black women's political organizations making a difference

ReShonda Tate

June 16, 2022 |

Defender Network |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The Black Women’s PAC holds events and rallies that provide insight and knowledge for voters, candidates, and political insiders. They seek to increase the civic participation of Black women, including increasing the presence of Black women holding public office.

Read More
Go to Original Story
States add early voting, and women could benefit — but it's complicated

Barbara Rodriguez

June 16, 2022 |

The 19th |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Legislation passed across many states allows early in person voting, which reduces wait times and makes voting more accessible for hourly workers and caregivers, many of whom are women.

Read More
Go to Original Story
What happens when the people decide?

Jenna Spinelle

June 13, 2022 |

When the People Decide |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Michigan

In a truly grassroots effort, organizers of a campaign to end partisan gerrymandering in Michigan mobilized more than 10,000 volunteers to rally support for establishing an independent redistricting commission. Through building meaningful relationships with everyday voters in each of the state's 83 counties, the campaign successfully gathered more than 400,000 signatures to get the proposal on the ballot, and the constitutional amendment was ultimately approved in 2018.

Read More
Go to Original Story