Search

Menu

Close

Press

Featured Press
Groups Urge Census Changes to Accurately Count Prison Populations For Redistricting

Press Release

Groups Urge Census Changes to Accurately Count Prison Populations For Redistricting

Today, Common Cause and the Prison Policy Initiative urged the U.S. Census Bureau to change how it counts prison populations each decade. The Bureau’s use of differential privacy, the intentional infusion of inaccurate information into population data, creates unnecessary miscounts in data used by state and local officials for redistricting. In a letter to Director Robert L. Santos and other senior officials, the groups emphasized that the populations of correctional facilities are already publicly available and that differential privacy is...

Media Contacts

David Vance

National Media Strategist
dvance@commoncause.org
240-605-8600

Katie Scally

Communications Director
kscally@commoncause.org
408-205-1257

Ariana Marmolejo

Regional Communications Strategist (West)
amarmolejo@commoncause.org

Jennifer Garcia

Regional Communications Strategist (South)
jgarcia@commoncause.org

Kenny Colston

Regional Communications Strategist (Midwest)
kcolston@commoncause.org

Common Cause’s network of national and state democracy reform experts are frequent media commentators. To talk with one of our experts, please reach out to any member of the press team above.

Filters

4018 Results

through

Reset Filters

Close

Filters

4018 Results

through

Reset Filters

Associated Press: Old tech has third of Kansas lawmakers’ disclosures offline

News Clip

Associated Press: Old tech has third of Kansas lawmakers’ disclosures offline

Beth Rotman, national director of the government watchdog group Common Cause’s ethics and money in politics project, said the forms should be disclosed in a way that average voters are able to see, and online data is quickly accessible and searchable.

“The public should have timely access to complete, searchable statements of their lawmakers’ financial disclosure statements so the public can evaluate any potential conflicts or red flags in real time,” Rotman said. “In many cases, delayed disclosure will equate to...

Provocative Report on California Citizens Redistricting Commission Selection Process Raises New Questions about Legislative Role in Striking Latinx Applicants

Press Release

Provocative Report on California Citizens Redistricting Commission Selection Process Raises New Questions about Legislative Role in Striking Latinx Applicants

 A report released today by the University of Southern California (USC), the University of Minnesota and the University of Houston researchers makes the provocative recommendation that the California State Legislature should no longer have the power to strike finalists from the pool of applicants for California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission. The report was issued in the wake of a series of controversial strikes in the selection of the new slate of commissioners.

USA Today: Election lawsuits set record pace amid COVID-19 pandemic as results decide who votes and how Nov. 3

News Clip

USA Today: Election lawsuits set record pace amid COVID-19 pandemic as results decide who votes and how Nov. 3

“On the positive side, the judges ruled that expired photo student IDs can be used as proof of identity to vote,” said Jay Heck, the executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, who called the state's rules among the most restrictive in the country.

NBC News THINK (Op-Ed): Trump’s 2020 USPS appointment could corrupt a key institution ahead of Election Day

News Clip

NBC News THINK (Op-Ed): Trump’s 2020 USPS appointment could corrupt a key institution ahead of Election Day

Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has attacked democratic institutions and undermined independent agencies. Now, as millions of voters are relying on the Postal Service to support our elections during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump is politicizing another once-nonpartisan government agency. Having a political ally with ethical and competence questions like DeJoy lead the agency potentially puts November's election at risk.

America has Lost a Hero with the Passing of Rep. John Lewis

Press Release

America has Lost a Hero with the Passing of Rep. John Lewis

America has lost one of its greatest heroes. Rep. John Lewis spent his life fighting injustice, and this nation owes him an enormous debt of gratitude. Through decades of tireless and selfless work, Rep. Lewis left the United States a far better and more just nation than the one he was born into.

NPR: Twitter Attack Underscores Broad Cyber Risks Still Facing U.S. Elections

News Clip

NPR: Twitter Attack Underscores Broad Cyber Risks Still Facing U.S. Elections

"[The] hack occurred in an age when the current president conducts official business on his Twitter account," said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause.

"Federal agencies such as the Census Bureau and the Center for Disease Control also share news and information through social media. It is time for real government oversight and for meaningful legislation to safeguard these important yet extremely vulnerable platforms."

New York Times: If Kanye West Is Running for President, So Is Your Mom

News Clip

New York Times: If Kanye West Is Running for President, So Is Your Mom

Just to be sure, though, we asked a couple of campaign law experts how much Mr. West’s filings meant.

“Very little,” said Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause.

Candidates are not required to register with the F.E.C. unless they have raised or spent more than $5,000, but “there is nothing that prohibits someone who hasn’t raised or spent that amount of money from filing,” Mr. Ryan said. “That’s why you see hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of not serious candidates,...

Twitter Hack Reveals Again Social Media Vulnerabilities and Dire Need for Oversight

Press Release

Twitter Hack Reveals Again Social Media Vulnerabilities and Dire Need for Oversight

‘Just trust us’ is no longer a viable or safe option for Twitter and other social media companies. Americans expect and deserve safeguards that protect their personal data and ensure companies take meaningful steps to mitigate harms when experiencing data breaches, particularly ones that pose a serious threat to public safety and the integrity of our elections.  The large-scale hack of high profile Twitter accounts reveals how security vulnerabilities on social media platforms can have serious threats  to our society. Yesterday’s...

New York Times: Some Texas poll workers refuse to wear masks, causing others to leave their sites.

News Clip

New York Times: Some Texas poll workers refuse to wear masks, causing others to leave their sites.

“The big issue we’ve seen is poll workers saying, ‘We don’t want to work this election because the governor isn’t requiring masks at polling locations,’” said Anthony Gutierrez, the executive director of Common Cause Texas, another voting rights group.

Santa Fe New Mexican: Native Americans faced difficulties voting in primary

News Clip

Santa Fe New Mexican: Native Americans faced difficulties voting in primary

Heather Ferguson, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico, said the problems seen in the primary are reflective of a long history of racism.

“Democracy has been failing in Indigenous communities for such a long time, and this is yet another example of how they have been disenfranchised and because of how all of these other systems are not in place, it continues to cause trauma and harm to these communities,” she said.

Load More

Close

    • Close

    Hello! It looks like you're joining us from {state}.

    Want to see what's happening in your state?

    Go to Common Cause {state}