Friends,
We’re off and running in 2025 talking to our fellow Americans about whether they think politics is serving them. We’re asking folks whether they feel empowered, whether they have access to the elections they fund, and whether they are aware of the widespread lack of competition driven by closed, partisan primaries.
Americans are dissatisfied with politics, even if they are unclear as to the path out. We, however, are clear: the only way to restore sanity to politics and reward common sense problem solving is through open and inclusive elections. Overwhelming research and evidence suggests that the structure of our elections determines who gains and keeps power in state legislatures and Congress, and, in turn, how they choose to govern.
We’re motivated - and hope you are too. Please ask your friends to join us as volunteers; we’re hoping to bring 100 new volunteers to our cause by the end of May. Click here to get started, and check out some of the exciting updates from around the country.
VAV State Updates
South Carolina
3rd IRV/RCV Rally by Better Ballot SC
On Tuesday, January 28th, Better Ballot SC hosted a rally at the South Carolina State Capitol in support of House Bill H. 3589, which would give municipalities the option to adopt instant runoff voting (IRV).
The event began with lobbying efforts and concluded with speeches on the State House steps. Featured speakers included Nicole Sanchez of Better Ballot SC; Representative Dr. Jermaine Johnson, lead sponsor of H. 3589; former Virginia GOP Delegate Chris Saxman; Irmo Town Councilman Erik Sickinger; Frank Knapp, President of the SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce; Danny Morales, SC State Co-Coordinator for Braver Angels; Chris Himsl, Veterans for All Voters member and former Army Colonel; and Dr. Kasie Whitener, author, educator, and radio show host
Maryland
Ranked Choice Voting Day, 1/23
Ranked Choice Voting Maryland hosted a happy hour at Red Red Wine Bistro in Annapolis. Partner organizations present included Veterans for All Voters Maryland and the Maryland Forward Party. Two Annapolis Alderman and at least four State Delegates attended with views ranging from full-throated support to unsure, but interested in learning more. Unfortunately, the comptroller was unable to attend, but she sent someone in her stead to present a citation to our partner, Ranked Choice Voting Maryland.
Of note, Maryland had the most RCV Day events out of any state. During the event, we set up a RCV booth and people voted on their favorite of the appetizers. The Warm Brie with Fig won after the Cheese and Fruit Tray was eliminated in the first round.
Left to Right: VAV State Volunteers Dennis Philapavage, William "Randy" Everett, and Mike Pellittiere, Ranked Choice Voting Maryland Executive Director Michelle Whittaker | Left to Right: VAV State Volunteers Dennis Philapavage, William "Randy" Everett, and Mike Pellittiere |
Missouri
On Monday, Feb. 3rd, Eric took part in two press conferences in support of the Respect MO Voters Coalition (www.respectMOvoters.org), and the launch of a new statewide ballot initiative to ban the Missouri legislature from attacking the will of the people.
The citizen initiative would ban politicians from continuing to attack Missouri’s citizen initiative process, including with biased language. The campaign’s leadership has helped lead previous successful state and local ballot initiatives.
The first press conference was at the state capitol, and the second took place in Rolla, MO. Missouri Citizens are invited to weigh in at the Respect MO Voters Coalition’s 24 town halls starting next week on policy ideas for the proposed Constitutional amendment. Missouri’s citizen initiative process is a century-old Constitutional freedom
Virginia
Mike Cantwell and other veterans represented Veterans for All Voters at Democracy Day in Richmond, Virginia on January 21, 2025.
Together with other pro-democracy groups like Big Money Out Virginia, UpVote Virginia, Virginia League of Women Voters, RepresentUS, and The Forward Party, we lobbied lawmakers and their staffs, and testified in support or opposition to various bills. After the event, we continued our efforts to promote pro-democracy legislation by sending emails and making phone calls.
News Articles
What the military, community, and working on Question 3 taught me about incentives and freedom
If you’re satisfied with the political status quo in South Carolina and the rest of America, then read no further. But if you're like me, tired of feeling manipulated every time you go to vote, then here’s the good news: The new bill H.3640 would require primaries to be nonpartisan and open to all voters
A bipartisan group called the Respect Voters Coalition is launching a campaign to prevent Missouri lawmakers from changing the way state ballot measures are approved
The 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session began Tuesday with the usual pomp and circumstance, followed by legislation being filed and printed. One of those pieces of legislation was Senate Bill 16 which seeks to create open primaries
The numbers are alarming. In 2024, only 17% of registered voters in New Mexico cast their ballots in the state’s primary elections. More than 300,000 registered New Mexican voters—roughly a quarter of the state’s registered voting population—are currently blocked outright from participating in primaries
During Indiana's historically competitive gubernatorial Republican primary election this spring, a bipartisan group of centrists emerged to encourage Democrats to vote for a moderate candidate in that Republican primary. They even erected billboards with the head-turning message, "Even Democrats can vote in the Republican primary
Supporter Highlights
Veterans for All Voters is powered by incredible supporters like Will Hubbard, who believed in our mission from day one. The generosity and trust of our supporters helps us continue building a more competitive, less polarizing political system that works for ALL Americans. Thank you, Will!
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