Recognizing the serious risk of democratic backsliding in the United States, the American Political Science Association (APSA) and Protect Democracy partnered to sponsor the APSA Presidential Task Force on Political Parties.
The Task Force’s report, More than Red and Blue: Political Parties and American Democracy, presents what political science says about the functions of political parties, how we came to have the parties we have, and where sources of change exist.
More in Common’s newest survey, Parties and Politics, focused on Americans’ attitudes towards the 2022 midterm elections and their feelings about how to best influence politics. It was developed in collaboration with the national NBC broadcast & streaming network, LX News, as well as our polling partner YouGov.
The top findings are :
Americans across party, race, and generations overwhelming see voting as the most effective way to influence politics. However, Gen Z Americans are much more likely than other generations to also see protesting as an effective way to influence politics.
Democrats and Republicans are much more likely to want more moderate candidates in the other party than in their own party. In contrast, Independents want more moderate candidates in both parties. Republicans and Democrats who want more moderate candidates in their own party were less ideologically extreme and more likely to say they belonged to their party because of their family or friends, as opposed to how their party aligned with their values.
Registered voters are ten times more likely to say they will vote in the 2022 general election compared to Americans who are not registered to vote.
The Freedom in the World report is composed of numerical ratings and supporting descriptive texts for 195 countries and 15 territories. External analysts assess 210 countries and territories, using a combination of on-the-ground research, consultations with local contacts, and information from news articles, nongovernmental organizations, governments, and a variety of other sources. Expert advisers and regional specialists then vet the analysts’ conclusions. The final product represents the consensus of the analysts, advisers, and Freedom House staff.
For each country and territory, Freedom in the World analyzes the electoral process, political pluralism and participation, the functioning of the government, freedom of expression and of belief, associational and organizational rights, the rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights.
Read MoreIn Advantaging Authoritarianism: The U.S. Electoral System & Antidemocratic Extremism, Protect Democracy examines the links between escalating antidemocratic extremism and the U.S. electoral system: “one uniquely translating limited factional support into outsized political influence.” In particular, it interrogates how specific features of the U.S. electoral system may be structurally favoring political extremism, such as by exaggerating one party’s electoral wins over the other, diluting minority voting power, weakening competition between the major parties, preventing an electorally viable new center-right party, and rewarding extreme factions at the ballot box, among other effects. READ MORE>
Read MoreEarlier this year, Citizen began comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of the modern American Right, examining attitudes towards Authoritarianism, QAnon, Voting & Elections, COVID-19, and Climate Change.
This report summarizes our findings and affirms our initial hypothesis that while political polarization puts our democracy at increasing risk, opportunities exist for Citizen partners to reach pragmatic voters on the Right and engage them in efforts to strengthen democracy and address other pressing national issues. READ MORE>
Read MoreThe mission of the National Task Force on Election Crises is to prevent election crises whenever possible, and to prepare to respond to and mitigate crises when they do occur. That mission remains as critical today as it was during the 2020 presidential election. In fact, the Task Force considers the risk of crises threatening future elections in this country to be dangerously high. This July 2021 report highlights some of the most concerning trends that have developed in recent months and the critical reforms that are needed to protect our elections in 2022 and after. READ MORE>
Read MoreMore than 60 foundation leaders and other big names in philanthropy have joined with business executives, scholars, and celebrities to protest efforts in several states to restrict voting rights. READ MORE>
Read MoreMore than 158 million Americans voted in the 2020 election — a record number despite the challenges posed by a global pandemic. But rather than celebrating this development as a victory for democracy, many government leaders apparently see it as a cause for concern and have responded with a stunning slew of proposals aimed at making it harder to vote. READ MORE>
Read MoreA layman’s guide to understanding what the For the People Act is and why America needs it. READ MORE>
Read MoreThis outline from Bridge Alliance provides anoverview of the democracy field -- i.e. the current work to promote healthy self-governance. This co-created and community updated outline document combines civic engagement, electoral reform, policy and issue work of the many unique organizations and funders working within the political and civic reform sectors. READ MORE>
Read MoreEllen Friedman on the importance of increased public investment in elections. READ MORE>
Read MoreDan Cardinali on how nonprofits can continue building trust and participation in US elections by working with people on issues they care about. READ MORE>
Read MoreAlex Daniels on the critical role philanthropy and nonprofits played in voter education and mobilization in Georgia’s 2021 Senate run-off races. READ MORE>
Read MoreGlenn Gamboa on the critical role philanthropy played in the 2020 election. READ MORE>
Read MoreJoe Goldman on how philanthropy can support the fight for a more open and just democracy. READ MORE>
Read MoreIn recent years, there has been a proliferation of organizations working to address our growing political divisions and hyper-partisanship. FixUS has developed this Landscape Review with the purpose of curating the many existing organizations devoted to improving the state of our democracy through political, economic, cultural, and other changes. READ MORE>
Read MoreDFN’s Executive Director Mike Berkowitz outlines the damage President Trump does by claiming fraud refusing to concede in the 2020 election. READ MORE>
Read MoreInside Philanthropy speaks with funders about their reactions to the 2020 elections and plans for continued work in the democracy field. READ MORE>
Read MoreOpen letter from 120 philanthropic leaders affirming the principles of a free, fair, and safe election season and asking fellow leaders to do the same. READ MORE>
Read MoreDFN’s Executive Director Mike Berkowitz shares some of the numerous options funders have for demonstrating civic leadership leading up to and immediately following the election, and in the process, ensuring public safety and protecting democratic values and norms. READ MORE>
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