Join us when the Granite State Democracy Tour stops in Keene! See the knitted New Hampshire State House created by many NH citizens and explore artifacts from the Doris “Granny D” Haddock collection, including the sneakers she wore when she walked across the United States raising awareness about the influence of money in elections. 

Take your knowledge of civics to a new level with presentations that address questions like: 

• How does the process of setting up districts for elections minimize or increase polarization among the citizenry?
• What effect does unregulated money in campaigns have on elections and outcomes for voters? 
• How do money and redistricting influence our life in NH? Our country as a whole?
• What is a Citizen Assembly? What did the first-ever statewide citizen assembly (here in NH!) conclude when seeking policy answers to polarization?

Engage in conversations with the speakers and connect with fellow citizens passionate about democracy.

Drop in and stay as long as you like. There will be an opportunity to participate in a craft activity and refreshments will be provided. 

Speakers:

Olivia Zink, Executive Director, Coalition for Open Democracy

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, organizer of Knit Democracy Together

Martha Madsen, Law Related Education Coordinator, NH Bar Association

Want to help support the Democracy Tour?  Click HERE

 The Granite State Democracy Tour is made possible by a partial grant by New Hampshire Humanities.

Democracy starts at the local level and that’s our focus when the Granite State Democracy Tour stops in Portsmouth. See the knitted New Hampshire State House created by many NH citizens. Listen to authors read from their books about school children who get involved in city government.

Take your knowledge of civics to a new level with presentations that address questions like:

What’s involved in running a town or city? How are decisions made in the community?

How can citizens (even children) engage with their local government without being an elected official? 

How do rules set by the state legislature impact voting at town meetings? Are the rules for voting in NH the same as the rest of the country?

Engage in conversations with the speakers and connect with fellow citizens passionate about democracy.

Drop in and stay as long as you like. Participate in a family-friendly craft activity. Refreshments will be provided. 

Speakers:

Nancy Pearson – civic evangelist and author of Smalltown City and the Spirit of City Hall

Christy Mihaly – children’s book author, Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means

Steven Borne, President, Rye Civic League; Editor, Common Denominator Newsletter

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, organizer of Knit Democracy Together

Want to help support the Democracy Tour?  Click HERE

This project was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.

Please join Open Democracy Book Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 7pm Eastern for a discussion of 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting.  Author Miles Rapoport will be joining us for the first half hour for discussion and Q&A.

In 100% Democracy, E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport argue that universal participation in our elections should be a cornerstone of our system. It would be the surest way to protect against voter suppression and the active disenfranchisement of a large share of our citizens. And it would create a system true to the Declaration of Independence’s aspirations by calling for a government based on the consent of all of the governed.

It’s not as radical or utopian as it sounds: in Australia, where everyone is required to vote (Australians can vote “none of the above,” but they have to show up), 91.9 percent of Australians voted in the last major election in 2019, versus 60.1 percent in America’s 2016 presidential race. Australia hosts voting-day parties and actively celebrates this key civic duty.

It is time for the United States to take a major leap forward and recognize voting as both a fundamental civil right and a solemn civic duty required of every eligible U.S. citizen.

Purchasing information

Available at your local book store (Softcover 24.99): 

Gibson's Bookstore, 45 South Main St., Concord, NH 03301  603-224-0562

Main Street BookEnds of Warner, 16 East Main St., Warner, NH 03278 (603) 456-2700

Toadstool Bookstores, 12 Depot St., Peterborough, NH 03458   (603) 924-3543

Join us when the Granite State Democracy Tour stops in Laconia! See the knitted New Hampshire State House created by many NH citizens. Talk with community experts who have a deep knowledge of elections, representation, and the legislative process.

Take your knowledge of civics to a new level with presentations that address questions like: 

How does the process of setting up districts for elections minimize or increase polarization among the citizenry?

How do the structures of primary elections shape the type of candidates who go on to hold office?

What is happening now in the NH Legislature on elections and voting?

What is a Citizen Assembly? What did the first-ever statewide citizen assembly (here in NH!) conclude when seeking policy answers to polarization?

Engage in conversations with the speakers and connect with fellow citizens passionate about democracy.

Drop in and stay as long as you like. Participate in a craft activity. Refreshments provided. 

Want to help support the Democracy Tour?  Click HERE

 Speakers:

Olivia Zink, Executive Director, Coalition for Open Democracy

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, organizer of Knit Democracy Together

Liz Tentarelli, President, NH League of Women Voters

Martha Madsen, Law Related Education Coordinator, NH Bar Association

This project was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.

Whether you’re a seasoned adult or a school-age future voter, you’ll learn something when the Granite State Democracy Tour stops in Concord. See the knitted New Hampshire State House created by many NH citizens. Hear presentations about the electoral process and its impact on legislation.

Listen to authors read from their books about school children who visit city hall and the U.S. Congress.

Take your knowledge of civics to a new level with presentations that address questions like:

What makes New Hampshire’s form of government unique?

What’s involved in running a town or city? How are decisions made in the community?

How has Congress changed or remained the same since the country’s founding?

How does redistricting impact the way our representatives respond to citizens’ wishes?  Should Granite Staters care about distortions in redistricting in other parts of the country? 

Engage in conversations with the speakers and connect with fellow citizens passionate about democracy.

Drop in and stay as long as you like. Participate in a family-friendly craft activity. Refreshments will be provided. 

Want to help support the Democracy Tour?  Click HERE

Speakers:

Anna Brown, Executive Director, Citizens Count

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, organizer of Knit Democracy Together

Nancy Pearson – civic evangelist and author of Smalltown City and the Spirit of City Hall

Christy Mihaly – children’s book author, Our Congress

This project was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.

Join us when the Granite State Democracy Tour stops in Hanover!! See the knitted New Hampshire State House created by many NH citizens. Talk with experts who have a deep knowledge of elections, misinformation, and representation.

 Take your knowledge of civics to a new level with presentations that address questions like: 

How does the process of setting up districts for elections minimize or increase polarization among the citizenry?

How do the structures of primary elections shape the type of candidates who go on to hold office?

How does misinformation spread and impact elections? Can the media counteract this?

How are votes really counted and elections certified?

 Engage in conversations with the speakers and connect with fellow citizens passionate about democracy.

Drop in and stay as long as you like. Participate in a craft activity. Refreshments provided. 

Want to help support the Democracy Tour?  Click HERE

 Speakers:

Charles Wheelan, Policy Fellow at Rockefeller Center, Founder of Unite America

Brendan Nyhan, Professor of Government, Dartmouth College

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, organizer of Knit Democracy Together

This project was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.

SAVE THE DATE

for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Open Democracy and Open Democracy Action!

The event committee is hard at work on all the details, which will be available soon. 

Make sure to mark it in your calendar and watch for your invitation.