While the presidential race has received most of the attention, Election Day delivered considerable wins for our democracy down-ballot. Voters in Connecticut opted to expand access to voting, and Florida voters protected public campaign financing. Voters in Los Angeles approved independent redistricting for the city council and Los Angeles Unified School District, and nationally, we recruited over 15,000 Election Protection volunteers. 

1. Voters in Connecticut Decided in Favor of Vote By Mail

Our government ‘by the people’ works better when more people can participate. Access to vote-by-mail gives voters more freedom and flexibility to cast their ballots. Common Cause Connecticut successfully advocated for a mail-in-voting ballot measure, which voters overwhelmingly approved.

The amendment lifted long-standing restrictions that allowed people in the state to vote by absentee ballot only if they were going to be out of town, sick or disabled, or couldn’t get to a polling location due to religious restrictions.

Passage of the amendment doesn’t automatically mean Connecticut will join the 36 states that allow people to vote by mail without needing an excuse for not going to a polling place in person. However, it allows state lawmakers to enact laws that allow for more widespread mail-in voting. This is a major win for the people of Connecticut.

1. Voters Approved Ballot Measures to Establish Independent Redistricting Commissions 

Voters pick our leaders — leaders do not get to pick and choose their voters. But in most communities, a handful of politicians have divided us into districts that serve their political interests instead of our communities’ needs.

Following a scandal in which Los Angeles City Council members were caught on tape using racist language to describe how they would gerrymander the city, California Common Cause immediately launched an effort to reform redistricting. In close collaboration with California Common Cause and our allies, the Los Angeles City Council drafted and approved ballot measures to establish independent redistricting commissions tasked with redrawing council and Los Angeles Unified School District boundaries for future elections. Both measures passed with more than 74% of the vote.

“Independent redistricting means that fair maps will serve residents, not incumbent politicians,” said Russia Chavis Cardenas, voting rights and redistricting program manager at California Common Cause.

1. Common Cause Florida Protected Public Financing for Campaigns

Running an effective statewide campaign in Florida is incredibly expensive. The state’s public campaign financing program helps foster a more diverse candidate pool and enables more regular Floridians to run for office.

In November, Florida voters affirmed that no one should have to be rich to run for office. They rejected a ballot measure that would have stripped public funding away from candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner. Common Cause Florida worked hard to educate voters about what was at stake with Amendment 6 and the people of Florida voted to protect public funding for future candidates.

This is important for the health of democracy in Florida. Public campaign financing not only opens doors to candidates who otherwise couldn’t take the financial leap to run for office, it also makes constituents more important to campaigns and incentivizes elected leaders to be more responsive to the communities they serve.

1. Common Cause Recruited 15,000 Election Protection Volunteers

Election protection efforts are a crucial line of defense for voters against suppression tactics, confusing laws, outdated infrastructure, and more. In 2024, Common Cause recruited 15,000 Election Protection volunteers to assist voters at polling places across the country.

Our volunteers inform voters of their rights, help election officials handle problems in real time, and notify attorneys when the situation warrants legal intervention.

Common Cause is working to build a thriving, inclusive democracy by making voting more convenient and accessible.

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