News Archives

We are a hands-on organization with a history of action. Read past web features and our old newsletters outlining some of our past activities here.

April 2010

 

Democracy NC Joins Kids Voting Durham in School Board Forum for Candidates and Tomorrow's Voters

Art SuppliesDemocracy NC recently joined Kids Voting Durham in sponsoring a forum that brought local school board candidates together with young people from a number of public elementary, middle and high schools in Durham County. Under the rules of the forum, only students were allowed to decide on and ask questions of the candidates -- and they came up with some doozies:

"How are you going to make the buses safe and stop the fighting on them?"

"Why aren't our school lunches more nutritious? What are you going to do about that?"

"What would your first priority as a school board member be?"

Candidates were interviewed round robin style by small groups of students according to district, allowing the participants to evaluate candidates aganst their opponents. Follow-up questions were often pointed and tough: "But what do YOU intend to do about it if we decide to vote for you?"

At the end of the night, candidates gave 2-minute speeches and students were then given the opportunity to vote on the candidates of their choice. They will also be allowed to vote on-line and in person at participating precincts during the Primary, with the results reported in local newspapers along with the official Primary results. For more on Kids Voting and how you can replicate a program like this in your town, please visit Kids Voting Durham.

 

 

Statewide Primary turn-out on May 4th was a pitiful 15%. You can review the preliminary results of the primary election on the website of the State Board of Elections. The anti-government furor of the Tea Party failed to produce any broad shifts in election outcomes: Learn more here by scrolling to the May 5th entry. North Carolina now faces an expensive primary Run-Off election on June 22nd to determine the Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Senate. Would Instant Run-Off Voting have been a better option? Download our IRV fact Sheet to learn more.

 

 

Making A Difference in North Carolina's Future:

Uriah WardMeet 18-year old Uriah Ward, our Democracy Hero for March and April of 2010! Uriah is a student at J.H. Rose High in Greenville. He heard about Youth Pre-Registration last fall while attending a Dem NC-sponsored candidate forum, took the time to learn more and, when the bill became law this year, went to work with other members of his school's Green Party club to register nearly 130 new voters in just a few weeks by manning a table in his school's cafeteria. He's now revised his goal upward to 150 soon-to-be new voters and will be heading into classrooms next to educate his fellow students on their registration opportunities.

March 18, 2010:


Dear Advocates,

We have heard from many supporters who are discouraged about the Supreme Court Citizens United ruling. They're wondering who our government really represents -- or if money trumps all. We cannot afford for people to lose hope. We cannot let this ruling cause voters to grow even more cynical or drive young people away from politics entirely. Silence will only further erode the power of the people to have a say in their own government.

 

 We need your help to make sure your friends, neighbors and co-workers realize that the people of North Carolina can still have a voice, thanks to Voter-Owned Elections.

 

Five Quick Things You Can Do to Help Us Spread the Word:

Option 1: Invite Us to Speak on VOE 

Invite us to speak about Voter-Owned Elections at meetings of groups you belong to, or request a PowerPoint presentation so you can spread the word on your own. Our presentation includes an explanation of the Supreme Court Citizens United ruling, what it means to people and groups, and why we think Voter-Owned Elections are a good way to help fight special interest money in the electoral process and policy debate. In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the Citizens United ruling, including what elected officials on the state and federal level are doing in response to it, you can download this useful summary.

 

Option 2: Join our MAD Skills Group

Write a letter to the editor or post to blogs about the connection between the recent Supreme Court ruling and Voter-Owned Elections. We've made it easy for you: We've got complete letters, talking points, cures for writer's block, lists of media outlets and a personal writing coach standing by to help you. Volunteer now.

 

Option 3: Make VOE an Issue at Candidate Forums

Primary debates are coming up, meaning now's a great time to speak up and ask candidates where they stand on Voter-Owned Elections. Email us for a hand-out that includes an overview of pending VOE legislation in NC and suggestions on questions that you can ask candidates.

 

Option 4: Speak Up for FENA
We are pleased to announce that Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-1) has joined the ranks of NC Congressmen advocating for the federal Fair Elections Now Act. Thanks to those of you who wrote or called him in support! If you'd like to thank him, you can reach Rep. Butterfield at 252.237.9816 in Wilson or 202.225.3101 in Washington, DC. But we still have a few critical representatives we need to get on board. If you are in one of the following districts, please call your Rep. in support of FENA:

 

Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-2): 919.829.9122 in Raleigh or 202.225.4531

Rep. Howard Coble (R-6): 336.333.5005 in Greensboro or 202.225.3065

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-7): 910.815.4959 in Wilmington or 202.225.2731

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-11): 828.252.1651 in Asheville or 202.225.6401

 

Option 5: Financially Support Our Education and Advocacy Efforts
If you're as concerned as we are about Citizens United but have no time to spare, you can still make a difference by donating toward our education and advocacy efforts. We've got some great ideas about how  people can fight the effects of this ruling, but we'll need your help to advance our ideas, inspire people and win needed reforms. You can donate on-line or call Molly Beacham at 919.286.6000, Ext. 12 to earmark your donation for specific activities.

 

By the way, don't forget to sign our petition if you haven't already, and send your friends there, too. It will help us create an easy-to-mobilize corps of supporters for when the time comes to pass more Voter-Owned Elections legislation in our state.

 

Together, we will be heard. North Carolina belongs to the people.

 

January 22, 2010:
 

Dear Advocate,

 

By now, you've heard plenty about the Supreme Court United Citizens case ruling rejecting limits on the amount of money corporations can funnel into political campaigns.

Is this ruling as important as people say? Will it really affect your life?
 
The short answer: yes and yes. Corporations already wield too much influence over policy on the state and federal levels. Special interest money is driving the debate on virtually every important issue that comes before lawmakers, including healthcare, financial regulation, energy policy and more. The Citizens United ruling makes it even easier for special interests to buy overwhelming media exposure for their candidates -- essentially buying victory and gaining control over policies that directly affect your well-being. In short, it opens up elections to the highest bidder and puts our government policies on the auction block.
 

What can you do about it? We can change the system.

 

This ruling makes it very difficult to restrict the flow of money in politics (which the Court equates with freedom of speech). But it does not stop us from creating another flow of money, one that frees candidates from having to depend on special interests.

 

Help us pass pending Voter-Owned Elections legislation on the state and federal levels

to give candidates access to alternate sources of campaign funds.

 

These programs are voluntary, they have repeatedly been upheld as constitutional by the courts and they require participants to show they are viable candidates by raising money from small donors before they qualify. And they have been proven to dramatically reduce the role that special interest money plays in elections. 

Take action now:
 

Sign our petition to pass the Fair Elections Now Act in Congress and expand public campaign financing options in North Carolina. THEN FORWARD THIS EMAIL to everyone you know who is concerned about this Supreme Court ruling. When they sign the petition, we will put them on our action list and send them ideas on what they can do to ensure that the people of America have as much say in who gets elected as corporations with huge war chests.  

 

In the meantime, if you find yourself overwhelmed with information on this ruling, remember:

 

This is still a democracy. We, the people, still have the ultimate power.

Let's use it. Together, we can and will make sure our government represents us all.

 
December 14, 2009:

Dear Democracy NC Supporters, 

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to Democracy North Carolina in 2009!

 

Holly berries If you're still searching for just the right gift for those on your holiday list who have material possessions to spare, why not give the gift of good government this year by making a donation to Democracy NC  in honor of a friend or loved one? Click here to donate by credit card. It only takes a moment and once you have entered in a name, you'll be given the option to have a card send directly to your honoree. If you prefer to donate by check, please mail it to Democracy NC, 1821 Green St., Durham, NC 27705 and remember to include the name and address of your honoree. 

 

We're Making Progress, Thanks to You

We are pleased to report that three polls in a single month showed that 1) most North Carolinians believe there's too much corruption in state politics and 2) a bipartisan majority of voters believe changing the campaign financing system would be an effective way to address the pressures that lead to this corruption. If you'd like more information:


Rising support for campaign finance reform shows that we are making real progress toward reclaiming ownership of our government from North Carolina's powerful special interests. We are grateful indeed to the many democracy defenders who have already donated this year, making our work possible. We could not do our research, grassroots organizing, voter education and outreach or policy reform work without help from a statewide community of concerned citizens. If you have not yet given this year, please click here to donate on-line or to learn more about how you can support our work

 

Thanks again for your generosity!

Sincerely,

Molly Beacham,

Director of Development

Democracy North Carolina

 

November 21, 2009:


We'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks

This newsletter comes to you with hopes you had a wonderful Thanksgiving -- and with a special thank you from all of us here at Democracy North Carolina. It's been a tough year on many levels, yet we find ourselves grateful for so many things:

  • We are grateful to live in a true democracy, where we have the right to speak up and make that democracy even stronger. We are especially grateful when we look around the world and see so many others struggling just to be heard. Thank you for helping us protect that right.

  • We are grateful that so many of you share our determination to create a government of, for and by the people, despite your many pressing daily priorities. Thank you for paying attention.

  • We are grateful that there are good people leading our government, people with both the integrity and the courage to take on those who misuse their power for personal gain. Thank you for recognizing that public service must be built on a desire to serve the public good.

  • We are grateful for all the support you give us, whether it takes the form of a financial contribution or a willingness to advocate for our goals. Thank you for making our work possible.

We hope you share in our optimism and will continue to join us in making North Carolina an even better place to live in 2010.

 

Help us pass on a special thanks

We are also thankful for the four NC Congressmen who have signed on as co-sponsors of HR-1826, the Fair Elections Now Act, a bill to provide optional public campaign financing for congressional candidates. If you see your representative below, can you take a moment to write or call him and thank him for his support of FENA? With all the negative pressure used in politics today, we think some positive feedback would be a welcome change:

 

We are now accepting applications for Democracy Summer 2010  

Did you have any college students joining you around your table this Thanksgiving? Don't let them return to school without letting them know that Democracy North Carolina is now accepting applications for our 2010 Democracy Summer internship program. Our 2010 interns will work in 2-person teams located in Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greenville and Winston-Salem. Under the direction of our field organizers, they will inspire others to take part in the political process and advocate for electoral policies that put the people of North Carolina first. Interns will receive a $2,300 stipend and learn about voting rights, election law, money in politics, activism techniques and interpersonal skills critical to successful community organizing. The ideal applicant will have a commitment to social and economic justice, be able to communicate with diverse groups of people, have a general understanding of politics and possess strong public speaking skills. Candidates should visit our website for a downloadable application and details.

 

Ending the year with an appeal...

As many of you know, we are in the midst of our annual fundraising campaign. Thanks so much to those of you who have already sent in checks! If you haven't had the time to give yet, please keep in mind that contributions to Democracy North Carolina are tax-deductible for 2009 if they are made by December 31st. They are also all very much appreciated. Click here to donate on-line or to learn more about how you can support our work.

Sincerely, Katy Munger,

Communications Director

Democracy North Carolina

 

November 2, 2009:

 

Dear Democracy NC Advocates,
When a politician cheats or steals, the media loves to play "gotcha" and the public is outraged. But what if the rules of the campaign system invite a candidate to cheat and lie in order to win election?

Will the media and public demand that the system change? And will they praise the politician who acts ethically and still wins? Why don't politicians like House Speaker Joe Hackney or state Treasurer Janet Cowell get more kudos for their leadership on ethics and efforts to reform the campaign finance system?  It's easy to criticize, but so much harder to take responsibility for fixing the problem.

Earlier this year, The News & Observer identified a number of travel-related donations the Mike Easley Committee failed to report and the State Board of Elections began investigating the Committee.  In July, Democracy North Carolina provided additional information and urged the State Board of Elections to investigate if the NC Democratic Party was "being used by a candidate as a conduit to launder earmarked donations that would be illegal if they were given directly to that candidate."

We acted because cheating in politics hurts voters and the good candidates who abide by the law.

On Friday, the State Board of Elections found that earmarking had occurred. By a unanimous vote, the Board ordered the Democratic Party to forfeit the $9,000 involved in two earmarked donations and, more importantly, sent an important message that it is illegal for a candidate to use a political party to conduit a donor's funds back to the candidate's campaign, particularly when the donor, candidate and party conspire together to evade the normal contribution limits for a candidate. We commend the Board for taking this action.  

The Board took a cautious approach in reaching its decision. Memos, detailed strategy plans, emails, ledger sheets, and other documents revealed that a specific "Governor's Fund" had been set up within the Democratic Party to receive and spend money raised for the Mike Easley campaign, but most witnesses could not recall or simply denied any earmarking occurred. The Board focused its penalty on two donors who admitted they knew their checks to the party were really for the Easley campaign.

The Board also voted to impose a $100,000 fine on the Mike Easley Committee and to refer former Governor Easley "and others" involved in the hearing to the district attorney.  It's a sad day when evidence justifies referring a governor for criminal investigation, but it's in the best interest of the public and of the thousands of candidates who are acting properly for the State Board to make it clear that no one is above the law. In another unanimous vote, the Board recommended that the General Assembly amend state law to require the candidate to personally bear the cost of fines imposed as a result of election law violations if the candidate's campaign committee is too broke to pay. Again, the Board sends a strong message that candidates must be held accountable for the conduct of their campaign. 

After sitting through the hearings, I've been wondering about what to do with good and bad politicians:
  • We need, and all candidates need, the protection of strong laws, fairly enforced, to weed out the cheaters and hold everyone accountable. But no set of regulations can prevent immoral candidates and their consultants from using loopholes to channel large amounts of private money into a campaign. More regulation alone won't produce better public officials.
  • We need more candidates with the personal moral strength to withstand the temptations and pressures of raising large amounts of private money for their campaigns. As the costs climb and the campaign's consultants devise new methods to skirt the law, fewer candidates can hold on to their core values. How can we help them?
  • We need to provide honorable candidates with an alternative campaign system that helps them stay focused on serving the public, rather than become preoccupied with soliciting the next $4,000 or $50,000 check from a donor with a selfish agenda.  The voluntary public financing program for some candidates in North Carolina and in other states provides that alternative, because it rewards candidates who raise small donations and reject large donations with a public grant to run their campaign under strict rules.
  • We need to tell good candidates and public officials that we appreciate their service. We hurt ourselves by not noticing who is doing a good job or by stereotyping all politicians as corrupt. Good government requires many solid leaders and participation by all of us. 

What do you think? Please send me your comments and let me know your thoughts on how we can turn this sad situation for North Carolina into a step toward positive electoral reform.

Sincerely,
Bob Hall, Director
Democracy North Carolina

 

October 2009:

It's been a busy autumn thus far for Democracy North Carolina, what with local elections, the healthcare debate, utility rate hearings, on-going efforts for campaign finance reform and staff changes. Read on for details plus announcements of a few opportunities you may be interested in.

Introducing our Newest Organizer

Linda SuttonWe are very pleased to announce that Linda Sutton has joined our staff as organizer for the Triad area. Some of you may be familiar with Linda from her work as a past Board member for Democracy NC. Linda has been active in the Winston-Salem community since the early 70's, working as a leader in her church and union, and as a Special Voter Registration Commissioner. She now serves as chair of the Forsyth County Board of Elections. She also co-founded the Winston-Salem Voting Rights Coalition, a grassroots, non-partisan organization that has registered thousands of voters and engaged them in advocating for early voting, same day registration and campaign finance reform. Linda will be based in Winston-Salem and work in Forsyth, Guilford, Davidson, Davie and surrounding counties. She can be reached at (336) 703-0695.

Shaunee MorganIn addition to Linda, we are extremely fortunate this year to have an intern on board from the UNC School of Social Work. Shaunee Morgan hit the ground running and has already represented us at the recent statewide NAACP convention in Hickory, penned an excellent opinion piece on local public campaign finance that was printed in the Chapel Hill News and is playing an integral role in our ex-felon re-enfranchisement and census outreach efforts. We're very pleased to have Shaunee with us for the entire academic year as she works toward her MSW. She can be reached at (919) 286-6000, Ext. 14.

 

Two Farewells

Democracy NC recently bid two organizers good-bye: Jonathan Peterson (organizer for the Triad area) and Tia Stanley (organizer for the Greenville area) both left us in early August to attend law school. Jonathan is now hitting the books at William & Mary, while Tia is at North Carolina Central. We feel fortunate to have had them on board during the busy 2008 election season and wish them luck in the future. Jonathan and Tia are just two of the many young leaders we have helped develop for our state -- and we are proud to have played a part in what we know will be outstanding careers for them both.

 

Eastern NC Organizer Position Open

Democracy NC is currently seeking a field organizer to work in Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Tarboro and parts of Northeastern NC. This organizer will  mobilize and train citizen activists, work with the media, plan events, supervise and canvass with summer organizers, and build coalitions with local organizations. The job is a full-time salaried position with health benefits.  Please click here for complete information.

 

Calling All Scribes

Are you ready for your voice to be heard? Would you like to learn how to become a more effective advocate for the issues you believe in? Democracy NC is starting a special group for Advocates who are interested in honing their letter-to-the-editor skills and other media outreach strengths. If you sign up, you will receive a kit and on-going information on writing better letters to the editor, messaging on our core issues and ideas on getting the word out about our top concerns. All training will be conducted via email or internet, meaning you can live anywhere in the state and take part. We are particularly interested in hearing from Advocates who live in the Western and Northeast parts of the state, rural communities and other areas where we do not have a local coalition nearby. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact katymunger@democracy-nc.org and we'll add you to the list of the few, the proud and the willing.


Encouraging Citizen Involvement

As you may be aware, in recent months Democracy NC has co-sponsored workshops on citizen involvement in the on-going healthcare and utility rate hike debates. These issue areas were chosen not because we are taking a particular stance on them but because they are areas of uncommon interest to our Advocates and we believe very strongly in the concept of public input into public policy. We have also been encouraging people to attend hearings and other meetings on these matters in order to voice their opinions on them. These efforts are all part of our determination to ensure that policy debate in North Carolina is not dominated by special interests and that ordinary people have a say in how policy is decided. In fact, we believe that including citizens in policy debate is the only way to build a government that is truly of the people, for the people and by the people of NC. If you would like more information on our citizen advocacy training, please contact our Organizing Director Adam Sotak at adamsotak@democracy-nc.org.


Federal Campaign Finance Reform Moves Forward

We are pleased to report that NC Congressional representatives David Price (D) and Brad Miller (D) have joined Walter Jones (R) in co-sponsoring the Fair Elections Now Act (HR-1826), a House bill that would create a public campaign financing option for Congressional candidates. Price and Miller committed after receiving numerous phone calls and emails from our Advocates and we are grateful to those of you who took action on this key issue. As the current policy debates on healthcare, energy, financial regulation and other key areas show: Until we find a way to fundamentally change the system, we are going to find ourselves in the position of continually having to fix bad policies shaped by special interests rather than a concern for the public good. FENA is a good step forward in changing the system. By the way, it's not too late for other NC Congressional reps to co-sponsor HR-1826. Contact yours if you would like to see him or her join the growing list of FENA sponsors.


Don't Forget to Vote!

Early Voting has opened for the November 3rd General Election and we urge all of you to weigh in on your local races by heading to the ballot box. Primary turnout was dismal, yet the people we elect this year will have a profound effect on the quality of life in our local communities. For more information on how, when and where you can vote early, please contact your local board of elections. Click on the county's name to connect to the local election board's website, where you will find information about Early Voting locations, a list of candidates, and perhaps a sample ballot. 

Greenville GOTV Coalition Update
October 13, 2009

 

Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Democracy North Carolina, and the Greenville GOTV Coalition hosted a successful Greenville candidate forum on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at City Hall. The event was well attended and candidates were asked questions related to crime, affordable housing, and diversity, among other things. Thanks to Delta Sigma Theta and all the candidates and volunteers that made the forum a success!

Free GOTV Flyers

There are still GOTV (Get Out the Vote) flyers available for pick-up and distribution at Burton Family Dental on Arlington Blvd. These small flyers make great church bulletin inserts or are great for handing out at local events. The flyers have information on Pitt county early voting locations and times. They also provide voting rights information and tips for using same-day voter registration.


Early voting for all Pitt county municipal elections begins this Thursday. You can view the early voting schedule on the Pitt County Board of Elections website: http://www.co.pitt.nc.us/depts/elections. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. The polls will be open from 6:30am - 7:30pm.

Greenville Voter Guide

UNC-TV and the N.C. Center for Voter Education have teamed up to create an online voter guide for candidates in 11 municipalities across N.C. Greenville candidate bios and website links can be found at: www.ncvoterguide.org. Please spread the word about this valuable resource!


New Greensboro voter guides and upcoming candidate forum
October 6, 2009

 

It's that time of year again - election time. There's no historic Presidential or U.S. Senate race on the ballot this year BUT there are crucial elections for Mayor and City Council (Oct. 6 Primary, Nov. 3 General) that will determine the future of Greensboro for years to come. That's why the Guilford Unity Effort, with help from Democracy NC and YES! Weekly, has developed Greensboro 2009: Guide for the City Elections. This free guide contains great information on the candidates, provides important early voting and voting rights information, and lists upcoming candidate forums.


This printed guide is a great, non-partisan resource that you can distribute to your neighbors, places of worship, workplaces, and at other public events and locations. Please contact Sharon Hightower at 336-508-5346 or Sharon@fisherpark.com to order copies of the guide today. We have 20,000 for distribution throughout Greensboro so your help is welcome!


Also, the Guilford County Unity Effort invites you to an important Greensboro candidate forum next Tuesday.


Options for Health Care and Campaign Finance Reform
August 2009:

 

The fight about health insurance reform is red hot, but where's the light shining on core truths about what it is, what it is not, and what it should be?


On Saturday, August 29, the statewide H K on J coalition, led by the NC NAACP, is co-sponsoring a statewide day of action in several NC cities to explain and support the advantages of universal health coverage and a "public option" insurance program.  


Democracy NC is a partner of the H K on J coalition, and our research has demonstrated the link between Congressional votes on health reform and campaign contributions.  Our report shows not only how campaign money affects the health care debate, but also why a "public option" for federal campaign financing is crucial if we want more members of Congress to focus on the needs of ordinary people.


Here are actions that you can take - a few "options" for you to be involved!


* Attend one of Saturday's events.  Click here for the details of events on Saturday in Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville and Greenville. We hope to have advocates there collecting signatures in support of the federal Fair Elections Now Act, so look for us!


* Help spread the word by forwarding this information via email, Facebook, Twitter, flyers, etc.  Bring someone with you to an event.


* Sign a petition/letter to your member of Congress in favor of a public campaign alternative for Congressional elections (HR-1826, the Fair Elections Now Act).

:

Advocate News
August 18, 2009
 

It's been a busy summer!  Here's an update on some important victories and other news:

New Health Care Report

Recent news has been dominated by the health care debate. Last week, we released a timely report about the $5.2 million raised by NC members of Congress from donors connected to the health care and insurance industries. The report describes the leading recipients of this money and their votes on past bills, particularly related to the pharmaceutical industry. As you might expect, "follow the money" is good advice for understanding the challenges facing health insurance reform. Be sure to read to the end of the report for the link between drug money, healthcare policy, and campaign finance reform.

Progress on Council of State Voter-Owned Elections

In a final 29-17 vote, the NC Senate approved a bill to expand the successful public campaign financing program for the State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Commissioner of Insurance.  The bill adds the office of the State Treasurer and creates a dedicated source of money for the program from small fees on investment managers and insurance agents. The bill will be taken up by the state House in 2010. "Public financing is a proven reform that gives voters more control over government, makes public officials more accountable to constituents and levels the playing field," State Treasurer Janet Cowell said. "It also allows for greater transparency and avoids the appearance of conflicts of interest." Read more at www.ncvce.org.

Landmark Legislation: Pre-Register to Vote at Age 16

A bipartisan bill adopted by the General Assembly could add thousands of young people to the voter rolls and boost voter education and voter turnout in NC. The bill allows 16 and 17 year olds to fill out a pre-registration form, particularly when they take the required civics course in the tenth grade or sign up for a driver's license. When the teenager reaches voting age, he or she will be automatically registered and the board of elections will verify the information on the form following the same process used for all first-time voters. The ratified bill also requires county boards of elections to conduct registration drives at high schools each year, and it broadens existing requirements for teaching students about the voting process.

Democracy Summer 2009

This summer marked the 10th anniversary of our Democracy Summer program, and this year's class was exceptional! Ten students worked in pairs in five cities: Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro and Greenville. We set ambitious goals and the student organizers worked hard to meet them. In just 9 weeks, they:  

  • Contacted 10,000 Democracy NC supporters and frequent voters in support of campaign finance reform legislation;

  • Generated over 1,000 phone calls, 500 emails, and 400 handwritten post cards to NC legislators in support of Voter Owned Elections;

  • Spoke to 40 civic groups about our work and met one-on-one or in small groups with over 80 Democracy Advocates, community leaders and elected officials;

  • Earned 10 media hits (TV, radio, news articles, letters to editor) for reform;

  • Completed 2 research projects: One examined the campaign donations of political appointees and the other mapped youth-service groups in 5 counties, which will help us implement the new pre-registration law for teenagers.

  • Hosted 11 house parties and donor meetings to help raise funds for Democracy Summer and other Dem-NC work

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News Coverage

 

 

Excerpt from an article published on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by Herbert L. White, The Charlotte Post:

Sarah Norris and America Allen spent their summer learning first-hand how grassroots politics works.

The UNC Chapel Hill students spent two months in the Democracy Summer program sponsored by Democracy North Carolina, a non-partisan political advocacy group.

Norris, 19, and Allen, 20, worked on a project advocating for public financing of N.C. elections and legislation that would pre-register teens to vote.

“I saw it as a way to familiarize myself with the political process,” said Norris, a sophomore political science major and graduate of Parkwood High School in Monroe. “Something like this would be a potential job opportunity for me after school as far as what goes into policy-making.”

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