Common Cause Rhode Island

You’re #VoteReady, but what about your friends and family? Our communities are strongest when everyone participates. Help your loved ones register, make a plan, and vote. Visit NationalVoterEducationWeek.org/share for more information!

🚨LAST CALL for tickets to our Champions of Democracy Celebration and Annual Meeting next Thursday, October 16th! You won't want to miss our biggest event of the year. Grab your tickets before they are gone:

act.commoncause.org/ticketed_eve...

If you’re into data, check out our voter turnout data hub for maps and data dashboards of voting patterns and methods in Rhode Island! #NationalVoterEducationWeek
See here: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/22eb...

2025 Champions of Democracy Celebration and Annual Meeting Common Cause Rhode Island is pleased to announce that the 2025 Champions of Democracy Celebration and Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 5:30-8:00 PM at The Guild in Paw...

🎟️Tickets for the upcoming 2025 Champions of Democracy Celebration & Annual Meeting are still available for purchase! If you'd like to support our work and celebrate the achievements of our awardees, be sure to order your tickets before they sell out.
➡️ act.commoncause.org/ticketed_eve...

ICYMI: On Thursday, 10/16, Common Cause RI will recognize the following Rhode Islanders for their contributions to democracy:
🌟Brown Votes and Every Vote Counts @ Brown
🌟Zack Mezera, former political director of @ri.workingfamilies.org
🌟RI Freedom to Read Coalition
🌟@riblia-caucus.bsky.social

A short list of things you can do on vote.ri.gov during #NationalVoterEducationWeek:

✅ Update your voter record
✅ Register to vote
✅ Find a polling place
✅ View sample ballot
✅ Find your elected officials
✅ Track a mail ballot
✅ Find special elections info
✅ Declare your candidacy
✅ Find a drop box

Many thanks to the Garden Time Green Reentry Program for inviting our executive director, John Marion, to join the mock prison gerrymandering debate on the RI House floor.

Add Your Name: Deliver on the People's Promise

We need an economy that works for everyone, a government for the people, and equal rights and opportunity for all. Learn more about the @commoncause.org People’s Promise agenda here: www.commoncause.org/actions/add-...

Last week, we were thrilled to attend @epi-ri.bsky.social's timely 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference, where we networked with other pro-democracy organizations and activists and discussed what’s next for our people-powered movement.

Jacket lapel featuring two buttons: “Put your $ where your ⚓️ is” “I ❤️ democracy”

Representing @localreturn.bsky.social @investri.bsky.social and @commoncauseri.bsky.social today.

It’s National Voter Education Week!
Here in Rhode Island, we are confident that our elections are secure and accessible. Read more about how we’re safeguarding our elections in our most recent newsletter: conta.cc/3K3LsiK

#NationalVoterEducationWeek

Join us on October 16 as we recognize the Excellence in Public Service awardees: @zackmezera.com, the RI Freedom to Read Coalition, and the @riblia-caucus.bsky.social! 🎉

The early bird ticket discount for the Champions of Democracy Celebration ends tonight ➡️🎟️ act.commoncause.org/ticketed_eve...

Ethics Commission adopts needed reform and closes the "lobbyist loophole " They also voted to increase the value of gifts public officials may receive from the public.

Ethics Commission adopts needed reform and closes the "lobbyist loophole"

They also voted to increase the value of gifts public officials may receive from the public.

New limits on gifts for lawmakers and who can give them are coming in the new year • Rhode Island Current The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday approved two proposed rule changes regarding gifts given to public officials: one which is likely to please some state lawmakers, and the other to satisfy...

Ethics panel OKs lawmaker gift limit increase, explicitly makes all lobbyists subject to gift rules. By @ohnocastro.bsky.social
rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/09/30/n...

BREAKING: The RI Ethics Commission voted to CLOSE the lobbyist loophole! 🎉🎉🎉 Keep watching to learn more about this victory for ethics and the public interest.

Interested in supporting our work? Visit www.commoncause.org/rhode-island...

R.I. Ethics Commission closes lobbyist ‘loophole’ while raising limit on gifts to public officials to $50 - The Boston Globe Common Cause RI is disappointed with the higher gift limit, but hails “important step” stemming from controversy over McKee administration contract with ILO Group.

RI Ethics Commission closes lobbyist ‘loophole’ while raising limit on gifts to public officials to $50. @commoncauseri.bsky.social is disappointed in higher gift limit but hails “important step” stemming from controversy over McKee admin contract with ILO Group
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/30/m...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole

Read the full press release from @johnmarion.bsky.social here: www.commoncause.org/rhode-island...

Trump's Department of Justice demanded that RI turn over sensitive personal data of RI voters. Secretary of State Amore refused to provide any information that isn't already public.

TAKE ACTION: Thank Secretary Amore and urge him to continue resisting the DOJ's power grab! tinyurl.com/3ev96tvz 🖋️

Announcing the recipients of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award🥁

Common Cause Rhode Island will recognize two student groups, Brown Votes and Every Vote Counts @ Brown, at our 2025 Champions of Democracy Celebration on Oct 16th! 🎉

Learn more and order your tickets here: commoncause.org/annualmeetingri

🫡 these organizations for hosting resource tables at our conference!

@riaclu.bsky.social - Know Your Rights
@commoncauseri.bsky.social - Expanding Voting Rights in RI
@freedomtoreadccc.bsky.social RI - free books!
@risecstate.bsky.social - Voter reg. & small biz resources

🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/4fx4rh4

Happy #NationalVoterRegistrationDay! Rhode Islanders can register to vote, check their voter registration record, and make any necessary updates by visiting @risecstate.bsky.social's website, vote.ri.gov. Voters from other states can visit nationalvoterregistrationday.org.

Don’t miss out on the chance to make a difference! It’s #NationalVoterRegistrationDay. Click here to get started and check or register to vote online in just a few seconds. 👇
www.commoncause.org/research-and...

"The people who have benefited the most are those politicians who have the most power and best connections to networks of wealth. The donors who are maxing out are a who’s who of lobbyists and developers in the state" - Common Cause RI's executive director John Marion.

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!

This month and every month, we honor the leadership of Hispanic Americans who continue to strengthen our democracy.

"Magistrates are judges in all but name and therefore should be subject to the same selection process as all other judges" - Common Cause Rhode Island's executive director John Marion.

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/p...

Join or Die Film Screening at Roger Williams Park Join the Roger Williams Park Conservancy for a Free Community Film Screening and “Joining Fair” at the Casino!

🎟️Tickets are still available for the Join or Die film screening this evening at Roger Williams Park Casino! Grab your ticket now and stop by our table at the civic involvement fair after the film. @joinordiefilm.bsky.social

rwpconservancy.networkforgood.com/events/89468...

Let RI Vote for Same Day Registration! The 30-day voter registration requirement is the most significant barrier to voter participation in Rhode Island. We know from experience in other states that thousands of additional eligible voters w...

Rhode Island already has the most restrictive voter registration deadline in the nation. Attacks on voting rights from the current administration will only exacerbate current challenges.

➡️TAKE ACTION: Add your name to the petition for same-day voter registration: act.commoncause.org/petitions/pe...

Feds block League of Women Voters from registering new citizens after R.I. naturalization ceremonies • Rhode Island Current Rhode Island League of Women Voters volunteers have helped over 1,700 new American citizens register to vote at naturalization ceremonies over the last two years. But a new Trump administration policy...

In the past two years, our partners at the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island have helped to bring over 1,700 new American citizens into our democracy.

Now, they can no longer register voters at naturalization ceremonies.

Read more here: rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/09/08/f...
🧵

🚨The Trump Administration just banned nonpartisan groups from offering voter registration services to new citizens at naturalization ceremonies.

This is detrimental to our democracy and only increases the barriers that newly naturalized citizens face when attempting to register to vote in RI. 🧵