Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos

Dēmos is a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization founded in 2000. Headquartered
in New York City, Demos works with policymakers around the country in pursuit of four overarching goals—a
more equitable economy with widely shared prosperity and opportunity; a vibrant and inclusive democracy with
high levels of voting and civic engagement; an empowered public sector that works for the common good; and
responsible U.S. engagement in an interdependent world.
Common Cause is a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a
vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable
to the public interest. Gardner announced the formation of Common Cause in newspaper ads asking Americans
to join the organization. Within six months, more than 100,000 people responded. Now with nearly 400,000
members and supporters and 38 state organizations, Common Cause remains the nation’s largest organization
committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in
democracy.
aCknowleDgements
The authors would like to thank Demos Vice President for Legal Strategies Brenda Wright for her indefatigable
support and extensive contributions; Director of National Voting Integrity Campaign Common Cause Susannah
Goodman, Demos Vice President of Policy & Research Tamara Draut, Common Cause Vice President for
State Operations Karen Hobert Flynn, and Common Cause Vice President for Programs Arn Pearson for
input on drafts; Common Cause Staff Counsel Nick Surgey and Common Cause Legal Intern Zachary
Walter for assistance with drafting; Common Cause Legal Interns Peter Klym and Jesse Overall for research
assistance; Demos Communications Associate Anny Pycior, Mary Boyle, Common Cause Vice President for
Communications & Dale Eisman, Common Cause Senior Researcher. for communications outreach. This report
benefitted from research generously provided by Project Vote. This report relied in part on the generous support
of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and the Lisa and Douglas
Goldman Fund.
The authors thank the following individuals for their assistance and input. Of course, these acknowledgements
do not reflect the endorsement of any particular individual or governmental entity.
Chris Cate, Office of the Florida Department of State
Richard Coolidge, Office of the Colorado Secretary of State
Craig Forbes, Office of the Ohio Secretary of State
Scott Gilles, Office of the Nevada Secretary of State
Richard Lamb, Office of the Missouri Secretary of State
Donald Palmer, Virginia State Board of Elections
Alicia Phillips Pierce, Office of the Texas Secretary of State
Don Wright, North Carolina State Board of Elections
Joan Ashwell, League of Women Voters of New Hampshire
Julie Ebenstein, American Civil Liberties Union of Florida
Maureen Haver, Common Cause Texas
Elena Nunez, Executive Colorado Common Cause
Bob Phillips, Common Cause North Carolina
Elizabeth Steele, Just Vote! Colorado Election Protection, Colorado Common Cause
Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio
100 dĒmoS BrIeF | August 2012