Friends,
At Veterans for All Voters, we operate above the partisan fray and we are playing the long game. We are incredibly grateful for this community of Veterans and supporters who are laser-focused on solving our country’s “Primary Problem” – The problem that’s underneath all of the other problems that are not being addressed in a reasonable, bi-partisan way. The only way to combat partisan extremism, and performative grandstanding, is through open, inclusive and competitive elections. Elections where all voters can fully participate and hold our elected leaders accountable to all of us.
Our country could use a healthy dose of hope and more courageous, common sense problem solvers. Let’s build a new political operating system that will help get us there. Onward!
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.
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
Democracy needs systems, not saviors - Sierra Nevada Ally, by Mike Escobar
What the military, community, and working on Question 3 taught me about incentives and freedom
Improve S.C. politics, S.C.'s bad planning - The Post & Courier
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
Bipartisan group wants to prevent Missouri lawmakers from changing ballot measure approval - NPR
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
Is this the year for a paid Legislature and open primaries? - New Mexico Political Report
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
New Mexico needs semi-open primary elections. Our voters, and our democracy, deserve it - Las Cruces Sun News
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
Democrats were encouraged to vote Republican in the primary. This bill would prevent that. - Indystar
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
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