Partners In Democracy

So great to see dozens of written testimonies in favor of Ranked Choice Voting being submitted through @mapletestimony.bsky.social - keep them coming!

There's a deadline of 5pm *today* to sign up to testify in favor of Ranked Choice Voting at tomorrow's 1pm Joint Committee on Election Laws hearing

Register here:

The MA legislature is holding a hearing on Ranked Choice Voting & there are two key ways you can speak up:

✍️ Join our Testimony Workshop on Thu. 11/6 at 6pm (Zoom)

🗣️ Testify on Thu. 11/13 at 1pm (in person or on Zoom)

Sign up: linktr.ee/partnersinde...

Rewiring Democracy AI is changing democracy. We still get to decide how.AI’s impact on democracy will go far beyond headline-grabbing political deepfakes and automated mi...

And finally congrats to @mapletestimony.bsky.social's Nathan Sanders, who just co-authored a book, “Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government & Citizenship"

PID & @mapletestimony.bsky.social are in Maine today as @northeasternu.bsky.social's Roux Institute hosts “Foundations for the Digital Commons: Aligning Technology, Law, and Innovation for the Common Good"

Four people on panel discussion at MAPLE event in Massachusetts State House Great Hall with US flag behind

About 70 people listen to panel discussion at MAPLE event in Massachusetts State House Great Hall

MAPLE and Partners in Democracy staff & supporters pose after event

Congratulations to our partners at @mapletestimony.bsky.social on a terrific event at the State House this month! PID President & CEO Jerren Chang joined MAPLE’s Matt Victor & Nathan Sanders and others for “Civic Tech in Action: Empowering Engagement Through Innovation.”

BALLOT BATTLES NEW THIS MORNING — UAW Region 9A is endorsing the ballot question that would reform the way legislative stipends are awarded on Beacon Hill. “The UAW is proud to represent millions of Americans nationally and in states across the country, and we can see that the Massachusetts legislature’s level of dysfunction and poor governance is an outlier,” Dan Rourke, chair of UAW Region 9A MA CAP Council, said. “We’re endorsing the stipend reform ballot question because ending loyalty pay is one of the many reforms necessary to achieve the responsive, representative legislature that the Commonwealth deserves.”

Momentum is building for stipend reform! As @kellygarrity.bsky.social reports, @uawregion9a.bsky.social has endorsed reforming legislative loyalty pay.

We need your help to get this & other pro-democracy questions on the ballot! Sign up here to help us gather signatures:
forms.gle/8EKmyRbCzeBo...

Join us tonight!

EXPLORING BALLOT QUESTIONS 101 Join PID for a virtual workshop exploring what ballot questions are, what democracy-based questions are attempting to appear on the ballot in 2026, and explore ways we can all take action to improve and strengthen our democracy through the ballot question process. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 6 - 7:30 P.M. EASTERN REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/pid_ballot PartnersInDemocracy.us Be a voice for democracy in your community!

How could 2026’s proposed ballot questions in MA impact you?

Register now for PID’s free virtual workshop Oct. 15 at 6pm: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Civic Tech in Action: Empowering Engagement Through Innovation · Luma Help shape the future of democracy in Massachusetts! This State House event will spotlight how technology can open new doors for participation, amplify…

Help shape the future of democracy in Massachusetts! ​Join @mapletestimony.bsky.social at the State House on 10/1 from 11:30-1pm. You’ll see a demonstration of MAPLE’s platform, hear from people using it to help their advocacy & enjoy a complimentary lunch.

RSVP now: luma.com/tte4v0rh

TONIGHT! Sign up here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Massachusetts is Renovating Democracy By John Griffin of Partners in Democracy: 18 potential ballot measures to renovate Massachusetts' democracy are moving forward.

Guest post from @pid-us.bsky.social's John Griffin about exciting new democracy renovation ballot initiatives in the works in Massachusetts! This is a great example of how a "tipping point state" with more agreement in government can lead the way and model better practices.

Speak up for critical democracy renovation measures in Massachusetts! The legislature is holding a hearing next week & on Monday, September 15th at 6:00 PM, we're hosting a virtual workshop on how to prepare & submit testimony.

Sign up now!

us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Statement on Murder of Charlie Kirk - Partners in Democracy Our vision for the future of our democracy was not Mr. Kirk’s vision, but we defended his right to articulate his view. The public sphere of a free society should be shaped by civic participants who w...

Reaction to Charlie Kirk's senseless murder from Partners In Democracy:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Healey press secretary Karissa Hand, the Boston Globe’s Martin Finucane, Brian Farnkoff, Meg Wheeler and Annika Jensen. Happy belated to state Rep. Dennis Gallagher, who celebrated Tuesday.

Happy birthday to our Organizing Manager, Annika Jensen, who gets a shout-out today from @kellygarrity.bsky.social in Politico Massachusetts Playbook!

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Writing & Delivering Testimony Workshop. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Join Partners in Democracy on Monday, September 15th at 6:00 PM for a virtual workshop specifically to prepare to submit written or oral testimony in support of same-day voter registration legislation...

The Joint Committee on Election Laws has now included S.524 in a hearing set for 9/16. We'll discuss this bill in our Writing & Delivering Testimony Workshop the night before on 9/15 at 6pm - register here:

No one should lose their voting rights for a felony conviction or incarceration. Use @mapletestimony.bsky.social to submit your testimony in support of S.524, An Act Relative to Voting Rights Restoration:

WRITING AND DELIVERING TESTIMONY: Same-Day Voter Registration Advocacy Training As our legislature considers same-day registration, PID’s Emma Chinman will explain how to tell your story & prep you to speak at an upcoming hearing. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 6 - 7:30 P.M. REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/pid_testimony PartnersInDemocracy.us Be a voice for democracy in your community!

Speak up for same-day voter registration to Massachusetts!

We're hosting a virtual training Monday 9/15 at 6pm on how to write & deliver effective testimony, then planning to testify at a State House hearing Tuesday 9/16.

Register now: bit.ly/pid_testimony

Stipend Reform Ballot Mobilization Date & Time Sep 4, 2025 06:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) Description Partners in Democracy is hosting a Stipend Reform Ballot Mobilization on Thursday, September 4th at 6:00 p.m. EST (Zoom). We’ll walk through our plan to get this democracy reform on the ballot in MA, and how you can help us make it happen!

Should your legislator’s pay be determined by their performance - or by loyalty to leadership?

We urgently need to reform legislative “stipends" - and we need your help to do it. On 9/4 at 6pm, we’ll walk through our plan to get reform on the ballot in MA. Register now: bit.ly/stipend-stra...

Public media is under assault. Here’s a way to fight back. - The Boston Globe Americans desperately need a shared civic infrastructure. We can fund it with an attention extraction tax on Big Tech.

We’re proud to partner with @mapletestimony.bsky.social to build the digital civic infrastructure our democracy needs. Read their founders in @globeopinion.bsky.social on how we can grow support across ideological lines:

“Legislators face a difficult choice: Please leadership now, or sacrifice their financial & political interests. A better system of legislative pay would remove the loyalty link & let legislators vote their conscience, without having to wonder if their salary will be impacted.” Jerren Chang President & CEO, Partners in Democracy

Partners in Democracy is joining the Legislative Effectiveness & Accountability Partnership (LEAP) coalition, filing a 2026 ballot question to reform the MA legislature’s unjust system of loyalty pay:

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/06/m... @samanthajgross.bsky.social

S.504 An Act enforcing accessibility for voters with disabilities. MA legislators: Please support this bill! For more info, visit https://partnersindemocracy.us/

S.504 would require regular inspections of polling places to make sure they’re meeting accessibility standards. Thank you lead sponsor @beccarausch.bsky.social!

Share your support with @mapletestimony.bsky.social:

www.mapletestimony.org/bills/194/S504

H.800: An Act assuring that polling places are accessible to elderly and physically challenged voters. MA lawmakers: Please support this bill! For more info, visit https://partnersindemocracy.us/

Disabilities & physical limitations shouldn’t restrict your ability to vote. That’s why PID supports H.800 to give towns funds to make polling places more accessible for older voters & those w/ disabilities. Add your testimony now w/ @mapletestimony.bsky.social: www.mapletestimony.org/bills/194/H800

Mass. lawmakers announce pay raise deal with bar advocates amid work stoppage The work stoppage has resulted in more than 100 cases being dismissed, in some instances allowing people charged with violent crimes to be released.

A huge bill that includes a brand-new bar advocates deal, plus funding for elder care, rental aid & hospitals, was just unveiled yesterday afternoon & our legislators may be asked to vote today. Do you think this is necessary to get bills done, or could the process be improved?

This graphic has an off-white background with a newsprint theme. The graphic uses navy blue and black fonts, and includes accents in PID’s signature colors: navy blue, dark salmon/coral, white, and bright medium blue. The graphic reads as follows: Partners In Democracy Advocacy Training Series: Written Advocacy Workshop | FREE | Be a community voice for democracy. Tuesday, July 22nd, 6 to 8 PM Eastern, Zoom. Become a clear and persuasive writer | Connect with your audience, whether through local news or at the state house | Get published and amplify your story. Completely free, spots limited, register today: bit.ly/pid_oped. Finally, the righthand side of the graphic includes headshots of Jerren Chang, PID’s President & CEO, and Miles Grant, PID’s Communications Director.

Happening tonight! Come learn how to write more effectively and persuasively, get your op-ed or letter to the editor published, and reach the right audience. Still a few spots left — sign up now! bit.ly/pid_oped

Reminder: our Written Advocacy Workshop is one week from today! This is a fantastic chance to beef up your writing skills & communicate more effectively on the issues you care about. Free, virtual & open to everyone, whether you’re a confident writer or just curious. Sign up now! bit.ly/pid_oped

Help support local laboratories of #democracy right here in #Massachusetts!

vcma.nationbuilder.com/join

This graphic has an off-white background with a newsprint theme. The graphic uses navy blue and black fonts, and includes accents in PID’s signature colors: navy blue, dark salmon/coral, white, and bright medium blue. The graphic reads as follows: Partners In Democracy Advocacy Training Series: Written Advocacy Workshop | FREE | Be a community voice for democracy. Tuesday, July 22nd, 6 to 8 PM Eastern, Zoom. Become a clear and persuasive writer | Connect with your audience, whether through local news or at the state house | Get published and amplify your story. Completely free, spots limited, register today: bit.ly/pid_oped. Finally, the righthand side of the graphic includes headshots of Jerren Chang, PID’s President & CEO, and Miles Grant, PID’s Communications Director.

Save the date for our next FREE, virtual training - our Written Advocacy Workshop!

Join PID President Jerren Chang & PID Communications Director Miles Grant to take your writing skills to the next level & become a stronger voice for democracy.

Sign up now: bit.ly/pid_oped

This graphic has a dark coral/salmon-colored background, a thin white square frame, and white font. The image reads: “At their core, freedom and equality have to be linked to each other.” — Danielle Allen

“At their core, freedom and equality have to be linked to each other.”

Recommitting ourselves this #IndependenceDay to the long effort towards freedom — for all of us.

More from PID founder Danielle Allen at @vox.com: www.vox.com/2020/7/3/213...

Bay Staters deserve a better Legislature - The Boston Globe Bills are written behind closed doors. Legislators are at the mercy of legislative leadership.

How can we make sure our legislature works for everyone - from all walks of life, from every corner of Massachusetts, and across party lines? Our letter in today's @bostonglobe.com lays out some solutions - let us know what you think: