Our Democracy 2022

Address Indiana’s dark money problem by strengthening disclosure requirements for campaign-related spending by outside groups and corporations so that voters and shareholders can know who is paying for political ads?

Hoosiers across the political spectrum support strong disclosure laws that allow us to know who is funding secret money political groups and campaigns.  These groups and their “dark money” are a big problem in Indiana, where they now account for more than a third of all political money spent.  These groups don’t disclose the source of their funds, hiding critical information from voters about who is behind the advertising and what interests are backing which candidates.  Hoosiers deserve strong transparency laws that give us full and complete information about who is spending money to elect candidates to our state legislature.

Reduce the influence of big donors by establishing a voluntary campaign finance system that amplifies small donations from individual voters with matching public funds, provided that participating candidates agree to limit their total campaign expenditures?

Elected officials must be responsive to the needs and priorities of all of their constituents, not just big donors and wealthy special interests.  We need a new alternative to funding political campaigns in Indiana that amplifies the voices of ordinary Hoosiers and breaks down barriers that prevent everyday citizens from running for office.

Indiana should implement a voluntary system, similar to the Connecticut Citizen Election Program, to provide public matching funds to candidates who agree to limit their campaign spending and raise money in small, individual donations.  Citizen-funded election systems bring a number of benefits, including:

• More ordinary people are able to run for office
• Candidates spend more time listening to and meeting their constituents, instead of raising big money from a handful of wealthy donors or special interests
• Elected officials are less indebted to a narrow set of big money donors and are more accountable to all voters
• Elected officials are more reflective of the community at large

Increase the number of Hoosiers who are registered to vote by offering automatic voter registration when a voter becomes eligible?

Several states, with bipartisan support, have implemented automatic voter registration systems (AVR).  AVR is the best way to ensure that all eligible citizens are able to cast ballots and provides a way for those who don’t want to participate to opt out. AVR will also help update the voter rolls and keep them current.

Make absentee voting by mail more accessible by implementing “no-excuse” absentee vote by mail, meaning a voter would no longer be required to provide a reason why they need to vote early by mail?

Unlike voters in most states, Hoosier voters who want to cast an early ballot by mail have to provide a reason when they apply for their absentee ballot – and convenience isn’t one of categories allowed by the law.  Absentee voting by mail shouldn’t be restricted to only the homebound or those out of state – it should be available to anyone who wants to cast their ballot that way.

Increase voter turnout by allowing voters to register to vote on Election Day at their polling place?

The deadline to register to vote occurs almost a month before Election Day.  Too many voters realize an election is coming up and try to register in the weeks before Election Day, only to find out it’s too late.  Now that we have a statewide database of voters, the best way to ensure that no one is disenfranchised because of administrative barriers is to implement a system where voters can go to their polling place on Election Day, register and vote.  Minnesota, which has long had the highest voter turnout in the country, has had Election Day registration in place for many years, without any problems.

Expand Election Day polling place hours beyond the current 6 p.m. closing time?

Indiana polling places are open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., making our state’s voting hours among the shortest in the nation.  Extending polling place hours until 7 p.m. will make it easier for working people and students to get to the polling place after they fulfill work, child care and school responsibilities.

Support amending the Indiana Constitution to take responsibility for Congressional and state legislative redistricting away from the General Assembly?

To guard against gerrymandering, create a diverse and politically balanced citizens redistricting commission to allow voters to choose their elected officials, instead of politicians selecting their voters?

To provide Hoosiers with more transparency about who is seeking to influence lawmakers, require more timely spending reports from registered lobbyists?

To reduce the influence of registered lobbyists, institute a limit on the amount that lobbyists can spend on gifts, meals, travel and other things of value that they give to legislators?