Vision

With carefully structured reform, we believe that we can modernize U.S. democratic institutions for protection against the polarization that underlies hyper-partisan gridlock and conflict.

Goals

1. 1.Since 2019, ERN has prioritized protecting U.S. elections from partisan manipulation. Our multi-tiered program includes: passing election ethics laws, reforming secretary of state candidacy rules, redesigning canvass boards for broad representation, establishing nonpartisan nominating commissions for election officials, and strengthening codes of conduct and oaths for election leaders.
2. 2.States are adopting redistricting reforms with independent, nonpartisan input to curb insider influence. In 2018, five states passed reform initiatives with bipartisan support. ERN backed successful measures in MO and UT and now supports the Fair Representation Act, which would elect House members in multi-member districts using ranked choice voting, ensuring fairer, more representative elections.
3. 3.The traditional U.S. election method (“first past the post”) works with two candidates but can produce low-support winners in crowded races. Ranked choice voting (RCV) solves this by letting voters rank candidates, counting votes in rounds and eliminating the lowest. ERN published research linking plurality-winner primaries to extremism and supported RCV efforts in ME, MA, and Congress.