Open Democracy

In collaboration with The Civics Center, Open Democracy is happy to share our latest research on High School Voter Registration Drives across the Granite State! In the latest research report titled, "Increasing Voter Registration Among 18-Year-Olds in New Hampshire" by Laura Brill, Kassie Canter, and Fionn Shea, you see very promising statistics and anecdotes on the progress we have made in the state! We still have work to be done but this is concrete evidence that we are headed towards a brighter tomorrow!

The voter registration rate nearly doubled from 8.5% in June 2022 to 15.6% in July of 2023! This is a key indicator that this initiative is truly changing the lives and communities that 18 year olds reside. This helps strengthen our democracy in the present but also in the future. As this program grows and more schools hold High school Voter Registration Drives, we expect these numbers to increase again.

These numbers are promising and more work is surely ahead. The national average for 18 year old voter registration is 30% and that towers over our number here in the Granite State. With your help and support, we can catch up to the national average and even surpass it! If you find this issue is important to you, your family, or your community, please consider volunteering!

Sally lived her life committed to kindness, compassion and justice. She believed in the promise of democracy and the idea that we as a nation are stronger when all voices are heard and all votes are counted.  

Granny D Memorial Walk

Granite Staters across the political spectrum took steps to strengthen our democracy, and honor Granny D's legacy, at this year’s Granny D Memorial walk Saturday, August 13, 2022. 

The walk began near Granny D’s home, where Dave Daley, author of Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy, sent the marchers off with words that echoed Granny D: “democracy is an action. It is a verb.”

And so the group set out to take action, walking to fix democracy, as how in 1999 Granny D set out to walk 3200 miles across the United States to raise the issue of money in politics. The messages on signs held showed the intersectionality of the issue today; messages to strengthen democracy for a healthy environment, for racial equality, and for the livelihoods of future generations. Some held signs that encouraged onlookers simply to use their power, and vote.

After the ~6 mile journey, the walk ended in Depot Square, Peterborough, where walkers were greeted with music from FolkSoul Duo. Francie von Mertens, Grace Aldrich, and Rick Hubbard shared memories of Granny D, and stories of hope for our democracy. The walk was also a celebration of Rick Hubbard’s own walk across the country, Walking to Fix Democracy, that he will start October 1. His journey is available at www.fixourdemocracy.us

Granny D showed the country the incredible power of everyday people to make positive change. The problem Granny D highlighted, the power of wealthy special interest groups to sway elected officials who should only be accountable to the voters, continues to this day. Those who shared the road Saturday understood that we cannot take our democracy for granted, and that we must do democracy, with actions daily, weekly, to achieve a democracy that works for us all.

Last Wednesday, supporters and advocates of Open Democracy gathered at the beautiful, politically-historic home of Arnie Arnesen to celebrate a year in review. For some, this was the first time meeting outside the virtual zoom box, and warm feelings of friendship filled the air. 

The program began with Olivia Zink, Executive Director, sharing the challenge in the words of Benjamin Franklin, "a Republic, if you can keep it." The evening transitioned into stories about the negative effects of wealthy special interest lobbying on our everyday lives, from the gun lobby to big pharma, after which tears of frustration turned to laughter with the songs of the "Corruption Chorus."

The 2022 Annual Meeting was both humbling and inspiring, with attendees left feeling like we have our work laid out for us next year to defend our democracy. Whether registering voters, or educating about pro-democracy bills in the legislature, that work will only be successful with this wonderful community, done together.