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Voter ID tied to lower Wisconsin turnout; students, people of color, elderly most affected

Cameron Smith

September 30, 2018 |

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wisconsin

Voter ID laws may reduce voter turnout, enough to change election results. For example, according to a UW-Madison study, thousands of people in Dane and Milwaukee counties did not vote in the 2016 presidential election because of confusion over new voter ID requirements or a lack of proper identification. Meanwhile, voter fraud, the justification for such voter ID laws, has been found to be a largely overblown fear by a federal judge.

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A Grassroots Call to Ban Gerrymandering

Erick Trickey

September 23, 2018 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lansing, Michigan

In Michigan, a group of people decided they were done with gerrymandering: a political process in which district maps are redrawn to favor one party over another. They formed a group called “Voters Not Politicians,” and did what no one thought they would be able to do. “The crowdsourced campaign held 33 town-hall meetings in 33 days, wrote a ballot proposal to give redistricting powers to a citizens’ commission” and “collected 425,000 petition signatures in four months to secure a spot on Michigan’s ballot—a rare feat, usually accomplished only by hiring paid signature gatherers.”

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This new coalition protects protesters' right to civil disobedience

Ben Paynter

September 19, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Protect the Protest is an initiative created by more than 20 of the world’s largest nonprofits to address SLAPP lawsuits. SLAPPs often target nonprofits and activists in order to derail them from protesting. “The goals are to communicate about common types of SLAPP suits and how to avoid or dismiss them, campaign together when such salvos are lobbed against both Protect the Protect members and smaller pods of activists or organizers that might not have the resources to defend themselves.”

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Governments are using games to engage citizens — but beware before you play

Jennifer Guay

September 19, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: China, Suining

Games can make policymaking more participatory and push citizens to change their behavior in public, and private, spaces. To keep engagement high, governments should change the games periodically and include both online and offline elements, says Gianluca Sgueo, author of Games, Power and Democracies.

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'It's a revolution': Indian officials deliver public services at people's doorsteps

Amrit Dhillon

September 17, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, New Delhi

To reduce corruption, the Delhi government has begun delivering public services to residents’ doorsteps. Now it’s possible to get a driver license, marriage certificate, and more from the comfort of home—no long lines or bribes required.

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How environmental justice is shaping a new civil rights movement in the South

Katherine Webb-Hehn

September 12, 2018 |

Southerly |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Armed with data, local activists are taking on environmental justice campaigns. In the absence of action on the part of the Federal Government, local organizations in Mississippi and across the South are working to increase transparency, generate data on public health issues, and mobilize action on climate change.

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Kyrgyzstan wants transparency to curb corruption

Nicolas Zahn

September 11, 2018 |

GovInsider |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is using technology to tackle corruption and reduce costs. The country is centralizing and digitizing government services with help from Estonia. It is also using biometrics in elections to reduce the chances of rigged ballots and build public trust.

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Reform Activists and a New DA Find Common Ground

Ruxandra Guidi

September 09, 2018 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

In Texas' Harris County, the state's most populous county, a grassroots collective of criminal justice activists contributed to a political shift that led to reforms in prosecutions, jails, bail, and policing. Inspired by the movement sparked by the death of Michael Brown in Missouri in 2014, groups such as Houston Justice and the Texas Organizing Project backed the election of a reform-minded district attorney, who turned toward community collaboration and away from tough-on-crime solutions. The new DA, plus favorable court rulings and state laws, softened the country's rough-justice reputation.

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In Argentina, public servants get promoted for learning how to innovate

Jennifer Guay

September 07, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Argentina

Every public servant in Argentina has to collect education points throughout the year. To spark innovation, the Government Lab of Argentina (LABGobAr) is offering courses in design thinking, evidence-based policymaking, and more with instructors from across the world. Sixty-eight percent of participants say they are likely or very likely to use the methods they learned.

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Meet the network tearing down walls between departments in Taiwan

Jennifer Guay

September 05, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Taiwan

Taiwan is getting creative with tackling tough policy issues. Representatives from all 32 government ministries meet every month, vote on topics to focus on, and conduct workshops with citizens. So far, the network has produced a user-friendly online tax system and is working on a new health card service policy.

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