Full 2016 Platform

46^th DRAFT GOVERNMENT & POLITICAL REFORM

The role of government is to accomplish those goals that we cannot achieve individually. Our government derives its legitimacy solely from, and must be accountable to, the people. A democracy requires full participation by an informed electorate; a voting process that is fair, transparent and open to all citizens; and elected officials who are responsive to their needs.

We support:

1. The right of every citizen to vote. To help secure this right, we support preliminary registration for 16- and 17-year-olds when they get driver’s licenses, and increased security for ballots and vote-counting machines
2. Fair elections. To achieve that goal, we support at least:
   1. Aggressive investigation and prevention of foreign interference in our elections
   2. Public campaign financing; end “dialing for dollars” by office-holders
   3. Direct popular election of the U.S. President; abolition of the Electoral College
   4. Overturning Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United v. FEC , to re-impose campaign contribution limits and reduce special-interest influence on government
   5. Counting people in prison, for census and voting purposes, as residents of their last home address, rather than their place of imprisonment
3. Basing all government decisions involving scientific issues affecting our health, safety and environment on sound science
4. Fully funding regulatory agencies to carry out their missions
5. Rescinding the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, that requires funding pensions for 75 years into the future, so that the postal service may return to fiscal soundness
6. Restoration of the Independent Prosecutor Act, to protect impeachment investigations from interference

We oppose:

1. Outsourcing or privatizing any part of the voting process
2. Any voter suppression, including removing registered voters from the voting rolls
3. Depriving people released from prison of their right to vote
4. Arbitrary state spending limits imposed by initiative
5. Executive branch secrecy beyond legitimate national security needs
6. Privatizing government services
7. Privatizing public infrastructure, utilities or water
8. Efforts by government to deny citizens their right to peacefully assemble in order to petition for a redress of grievances
9. Lack of disclosure of anonymous donors who fund a right-wing propaganda network, g., the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
10. Gerrymandering Congressional districts to “pack” marginalized groups into fewer districts and limit their electoral power