Press Release
High Scores for Vermont on Common Cause’s 2024 Democracy Scorecard
Members of Congress with perfect scores increases more than 15% from 2022
VERMONT — Common Cause, the nonpartisan watchdog, released its 2024 “Democracy Scorecard,” recording every member of Congress’ support for voting rights, Supreme Court ethics, and other reforms.
“Our 2024 Democracy Scorecard shows a surge of support in Congress for reforms that strengthen the right to vote, take back the Supreme Court, and break big money’s grip on our politics,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, President & CEO of Common Cause. “The number of members of Congress with perfect scores increased more than 100% from 2020, with 58 members in our 2020 Scorecard to 117 in this year’s Scorecard. As we see the wealthy and well-connected try to influence our politics and our very livelihoods, we must demand our leaders deliver on the people’s pro-democracy agenda.”
Since 2016, Common Cause has tracked support and co-sponsorship of democracy related legislation. This year’s scorecard includes ten legislative items in the U.S. Senate and 13 in U.S. House, including the Freedom to Vote Act, John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, and more.
“The 2024 Democracy Scorecard empowers voters with information to hold their leaders in Washington accountable for a government that works for all,” said Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause. “All three of Vermont’s members of Congress earned a perfect score for their support for pro-democracy legislation. With this year’s pivotal election, we must drive these key reforms to the top of the agenda, so everyone is afforded an accountable government, no matter what state we call home.”
Vermont is one of two states (along with Rhode Island) in which its entire congressional delegation had a perfect score. Additionally, Vermont is one of eight states with both U.S. Senators earning perfect scores. The other states include California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
Vermont members of Congress with perfect scores:
- Senator Bernie Sanders: 10/10
- Senator Peter Welch: 10/10
- Representative Becca Balint: 13/13
Common Cause is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office.
To view the 2024 Democracy Scorecard, click here.