Rally for Democracy.

Virginia’s government needs a update. Join us on January 23rd, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia to support legislation that make our government more responsive to and reflective of everyday Virginians.

It’s time for a change.

In 2020, Virginia ranked 46th in a state-by-state SWAMP Index that compared states anti-corruption measures. That’s not good. Until we change the way our government works, it’s almost impossible for us to seriously address other issues facing our society.

Join us on January 23rd to show legislators that we care about these important issues and expect action!

What to expect on January 23, 2024.

7-9 AM: Breakfast + Training

We will kick off the day with breakfast and some light training for participants. Maybe it’s your first time at the General Assembly? No problem! We’ll teach you everything you need to know for a successful day of advocacy! Already a seasoned advocate? We’ll send you off with some new tips and tricks to implement in your legislator conversations.
*Breakfast will be provided for attendees.
9 AM: Press Conference

After a morning of trainings, we will be joining legislators and our organizational cosponsors for a press conference to announce our legislative priorities and make clear to the legislature why we’re there! Legislators will be introducing and explaining their various legislation and partner organizations will be announcing their support for these good governance measures.
7AM-Noon: Key Legislator Meetings

Individuals and groups will be assigned key legislators to meet with and share information about campaign finance reform and the need for legislative successes in the upcoming General Assembly. We will prepare participants with talking points and written materials! Each attendee will be pre-assigned a group to attend meetings, so don’t be intimidated!
Noon-5PM: Committee Testimony

Because scheduling for the upcoming General Assembly isn’t released until a few days before session, we can’t be certain of committee timing. That said, we hope at least a few relevant subcommittee or committee meetings will be scheduled for January 23rd, so that participants can testify on relevant pieces of campaign finance reform legislation and share their stories with legislators in a public forum.
Noon: General Assembly Session Attendance

At noon, participants will be invited into the gallery of the Virginia House of Delegates or Virginia Senate chambers to oversee the proceedings of the daily session. We plan to get an introduction from a legislator in both chambers, in recognition of the campaign finance reform fight!
*Lunch will be provided for attendees.
January 22nd: Happy Hour

If you’re planning to be in Richmond the night before Democracy Day (January 22nd), consider joining us for a Democracy happy hour at the Tobacco Company from 5-7PM! Register in advance to guarantee your drink ticket!

Want a little more background before the big day?

Sign up for an online training!

*Albeit helpful, no training is necessary to attend Democracy Day! Trainings will be offered day-of to all participants.

What are we rallying for?

Virginians, like all Americans, increasingly feel that the government isn't working for them. With each election, more and more money pours into our political races, nationally and in Virginia, skewing outcomes and affecting the positions of those that choose to run for office. Constituents seem to matter less and less to their legislators, while legislative outcomes become more and more out of touch with the wants and needs of everyday Americans.

In Virginia, weak campaign finance laws have led to some of the most expensive elections in the country. In Virginia’s 1999 legislative races, spending totaled $32 million, while contributions to the 2023 legislative cycle were over $130 million. Candidates don’t raise that kind of money from everyday people. In fact, contributions over $20,000 make up a staggering 75% of the total contributions. Unchecked political spending by corporations, unions, special interest groups, and wealthy individuals have overwhelmed the voices of everyday citizens.

Virginians want a change and overwhelmingly support good governance reforms. In fact, 78% of Virginians are in favor of reducing money from big campaign donors, according to a poll conducted by the non-partisan Wason Center in late 2021. Majorities of Virginians also support creating contribution limits, strengthening disclosure, and restricting the personal use of campaign funds. We want a government that is more responsive to - and reflective of - us. We’re showing up on January 23, 2024 to make sure it happens!

Restrict the Personal Use of Campaign Funds.

Candidates for office in Virginia face no legal restrictions on how they spend campaign funds, unlike 47 other states and the federal government. Prohibiting the personal use of campaign funds would help ensure candidates run for office in order to represent the interests of constituents rather than to personally enrich themselves. 73% of Virginians support restricting the personal use of campaign funds and legislation to restrict these uses have been introduced almost every year for several decades. It’s time for action!

Enhanced Disclosure.

There’s nothing in Virginia preventing candidates and obscure donors from being vague when filing reports on contributions and expenditures, and there’s no review conducted by the Board of Elections or any other regulatory agency to ensure candidates are being accurate and comprehensive. Nor are campaign finance records accessible to the public through a searchable/sortable public interface. 88% of Virginians support the public disclosure of contributions, and 86% of Virginians support requiring reporting for online donations. Virginians deserve better access.

Increased Oversight.

Existing campaign finance law in Virginia does little to hold candidates accountable. The Department of Elections, whose mandate includes the administration of campaign finance laws, lacks adequate funding or the regulatory authority to monitor and regulate the millions of dollars influencing our elections. It’s time we empower them.

Campaign Contribution Limits.

Unlike 45 other states, Virginia places no limits whatsoever on the amount that any entity — whether an individual, corporation, union, public utility, or PAC — may contribute to a candidate during an election cycle. As you can imagine, that means that Virginia politicians receive an enormous amount of their campaign dollars from wealthy donors, corporations, and even publicly-regulated utilities. 75% of Virginians favor establishing contribution limits, which will help give Virginians a voice in their own government.

Publicly-Financed Elections.

Public financing offers the opportunity for more candidates of modest means to run for office, and generally leads to a more diverse set of elected officials that mirrors the demographics of the population at-large.

Ranked Choice Voting.

Ranked Choice Voting eliminates the "spoiler effect." In three-or-more way races, voters often face a choice: vote for who they want and risk electing the candidate they like the least, or vote for the candidate they think is more likely to win. This is the “spoiler effect” and it artificially suppresses the support of third-party candidates. Ranked choice voting solves for that concern by allowing voters to vote their conscience. If their candidate fails to make it past the first round, their second-place vote is counted instead.

A Constitutional Amendment.

21 states have passed resolutions calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow Congress and the states to regulate election spending. Such an amendment would overturn decades of Supreme Court rulings that have equated election spending with speech. Our legislators should publicly call for action by Congress so that Virginia can regulate election spending, allowing the voices of citizens to be heard over large outside donors.

The Protection of Voting Rights.

Virginia has made headlines in recent years for expanding protections for voters. The New York Times has called Virginia “a voting rights bastion.” With the passage of the Virginia Voting Rights Act in 2021, the creation of a 45-day early voting period, same-day voter registration, and the creation of a State Election Day, Virginia now has some of the best voting procedures in the country. We want to be sure these measures stay in place, so that all Virginians can be easily represented.

Independent Redistricting.

Following action by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020, Virginia residents voted to amend the state’s Constitution to authorize the establishment of the Virginia Redistricting Commission.The Commission was established for the sole purpose of developing maps for Virginia’s state legislative districts and districts for the U.S. House of Representatives. Before the Commission, redistricting was accomplished through the normal state legislative process -- bills outlining the districts were introduced, considered and passed by a majority of both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, and were signed by the Governor, with the legislature drawing the maps. Although the Commission was a substantial step in the right direction, it failed (for largely political reasons) and redistricting was instead passed to the Supreme Court of Virginia in November 2021. We believe that an independent redistricting commission, with all citizen members, would fare more successfully in the next redistricting effort.