8 Ways To Protect American Democracy

This is the year of democracy reform. Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress Safeguarding Elections in 2024 and Beyond [Four people lined up at voting booths with a map of America in the background. ]( With Election Day 2024 just around the corner, the United States is grappling with a crisis of faith in democracy. The insurrection on January 6, 2021, [is still fresh in the minds of millions of Americans](. In fact, this past weekend marked the three-year anniversary of the day thousands swarmed the U.S. Capitol in a violent effort to overthrow the government, and we are still dealing with the repercussions. Even now, there are rising threats of political violence, reluctance from local election officials to certify accurate results, and leaders relying on baseless conspiracy theories. As we gear up for the 2024 election, it’s crucial to not only continue addressing these issues but also confront new challenges. [Forty-nine percent of Americans]( believe U.S. democracy is not working well. The strength of America’s democratic institutions depends on the trust people have in them, and we can’t afford a repeat of January 6. A new CAP report, “[8 Ways To Protect American Democracy]( lays out a road map to heal and address these systemic issues. It delves into the challenges ahead, emphasizing the need for states, election officials, and the public to mitigate threats while improving election safety, accessibility, and security this year. The report also looks to the future in an effort to prevent the constant triaging of our elections and bring about large-scale impactful reforms that will empower voters and improve representation. It's time for all Americans to step up, protect democracy, and tackle the systemic problems in voting, elections, and representation. In many ways, the 2024 presidential election will determine whether faith in America’s elections and democratic institutions will be restored or whether America will continue down a path of conspiracy theories toward violence and autocracy. Let’s work together to create the democracy we want for future generations. There’s no time to lose. [Learn More]( Further Reading: Confronting the Stain of an Insurrection on American Democracy A new [op-ed]( from [Greta Bedekovics]( associate director of Democracy Policy at CAP, offers a vulnerable perspective of the gravity of what an insurrection means for our nation’s democracy. As a former congressional staffer who worked on organizing the January 6, 2021, joint vote-counting session, Greta points to key legislation passed in the wake of the insurrection to bolster the security of our electoral processes but asserts that much more still needs to be done in order to confidently prevent the subversion of future election certifications. [Read More]( Community Violence Intervention Is More Than Outreach [A video still of Susan Lee sitting for an interview. ]( Community violence intervention (CVI) programs have a long history of using street outreach to interrupt escalating tensions or stop violence before it occurs. But CVI programs also go above and beyond street outreach by connecting those most at risk with housing, employment, healing resources, and other social services in order to prevent gun violence before it erupts. Providing wraparound services is a central component of the work front-line workers do every day to intervene in community violence and reestablish a sense of hope and connectedness. In a [new video]( Susan Lee of [Chicago CRED]( shares how much CVI work has evolved over time to provide holistic and evidence-based approaches to violence prevention. Community violence intervention programs are transforming communities but need more funding to succeed. The [Break the Cycle of Violence Act]( would provide $5 billion in federal grants for CVI programs and $1.5 billion in workforce initiatives that are proven to reduce gun violence. These programs make communities safer by investing directly in the people and communities most affected to stop gun violence before it happens. Tell Congress to pass the Break the Cycle of Violence Act now. [Take Action]( Overturning Precedent: Examining the Regulatory Protections at Stake in the Loper Bright and Relentless Cases The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 17 to overturn a 40-year-old legal precedent known as Chevron deference in the upcoming cases Loper Bright v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce. The ramifications of overturning Chevron deference are broad and would strip federal agencies’ ability to react quickly to address new problems and looming threats as society grows ever more complex. Please join the Center for American Progress and Democracy Forward Foundation for a virtual event in which an expert keynote and panel will discuss the significant threat these cases pose to the ability of federal agencies to serve the American people and to protect them from bad actors and societal volatility. [RSVP Now to Tune In!]( Overturning Precedent: Examining the Regulatory Protections at Stake in the Loper Bright and Relentless Cases Growing up in New Jersey, Al DeVita was uncertain about what he wanted to do in life. He’d lost his father at a young age and wasn’t a fan of school. Despite this, after graduating, he moved to Arizona, where he was introduced to construction work. Within 30 days at his new job, he became a member of the [Laborers’ International Union of North America]( (LIUNA). Now, 43 years later, he’s helping usher in the next generation of construction workers. The 63-year-old, who lives in Reno, Nevada, is a training director for the [Northern Nevada Laborers’ apprenticeship program](. In a [recent interview]( with the The Nevadan, Al champions how economic policies such as the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act are expanding union work and funding clean energy projects. And as a mentor to young trade workers, he makes it a priority to tell them about all of the benefits to the job. [Read Al DeVita’s Story]( Find out what infrastructure improvements, new jobs, and clean energy projects are happening in your hometown, state, or congressional district with the [Biden Administration Investment Tracker.]( Combating Misinformation from the Fossil Fuel Industry Corporate special interests in the fossil fuel industry have long been behind misinformation in renewable energy. Their latest target? Offshore wind energy. Watch our latest video for what you need to know: [A still from a video showing a flow chart of how misinformation is spread through a network funded by fossil fuels. ]( [Share This]( [CAP 20 Boldly Forward]( Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]