Campaign
Automatic Voter Registration
By switching voter registration from an opt-in to an opt-out system, AVR makes our elections more inclusive, as well as more accurate and secure.
Making Government Work
Our government should make decisions that further the public's interest. But recently, gridlock, hyper-partisanship, and out-of-date legislative process have hindered meaningful progress. We are fighting back.
Common Cause addresses a range of good government issues to ensure that public officials can their jobs. Over the years, we have worked to:
- Reform the U.S. Senate to update its rules and curb abuse of the silent filibuster
- Prevent government shutdowns over anti-democratic political agendas
- Make sure voters have necessary information about budgets, spending, and the legislative process
- Stop legislators from wrongly interfering with presidential and gubernatorial appointments to the executive and judicial branch
- Ensure state legislatures have adequate time and funding to conduct the peoples’ business
What We’re Doing
Demystifying Democracy
An Educational Series brought to you by Common Cause Rhode Island
Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.
Events
In Person
2024 Champions of Democracy Celebration
Join us for our biggest event of the year, the Champions of Democracy Celebration and Annual Meeting. This year in addition to celebrating our awardees, we will have special remarks by new Common Cause national president Virginia Kase Solomón on the state of our democracy.
The Guild, 461 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 US
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm EDT
Press
News Clip
The customs, quirks and unspoken rules that really decide how bills become law in RI
John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, spoke with the Providence Journal about how a bill becomes law in Rhode Island
News Clip
As session begins, R.I. House requests no more than 15 bills per legislator
John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, raises opposition to House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi's calls for a 15 bill limit per each House member.
News Clip
‘Relentless grind’: Providence City Council is a big job. Some members aren’t always doing it.
"Certainly the fact that it is very low-paying, that’s kind of a reflection of the value that has pervaded for a long time in America – that legislatures should be made up of regular citizens or residents of the state or city that they’re representing."
John Marion
Executive Director
Common Cause Rhode Island