Beyond the midterms: Ballot measures and progressive unity

In the last few days, we’ve seen headlines like “Ballot Initiatives: Liberals up, Democrats down” and “Even as the Democratic Party got an old-fashioned whuppin’,” writes Bloomberg View’s Francis Barry, “traditional Democratic issues had an awfully good night.” 

In the 24/7 spin following the election, pundits and practitioners are grappling with the juxtaposition voters expressed by voting for progressive ideas through ballot measures, while in many cases voting for very conservative candidates.  

{mosads}At the National LGBTQ Task Force and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, this juxtaposition highlights the need to forge stronger bonds among progressive coalitions and push forward with ballot measures that support LGBTQ people, economic fairness for working families, reproductive rights and health, immigration reform, voting rights, criminal justice, and more.  

Last year, we wrote about the need to put forward proactive ideas on the ballot. Now, perhaps more than ever, we believe that a proactive strategy must start with building solidarity among the progressive community. 

The recent Supreme Court rulings on marriage equality have temporarily cooled conservative enthusiasm for what used to be a perennial line of attack on LGBTQ people. But make no mistake; this is a lull in the storm not final victory.

Conservatives are not going to concede that everyone has an equal right to happiness. We will continue to see attacks on full marriage equality and other efforts to halt or roll back progress on issues important to LGBTQ people. Attacks on women, minorities, young people, working families and the poor are not going away either. That’s why it’s so important for us to stand together.  

Here are just a few of the issues where we see the opportunity to work together on proactive ballot measures. 

Voting Rights

We know that since 2010, voting rights have been decimated in this country, both at the federal and state levels.  Through ballot measures, we have the opportunity to ensure that all people eligible to vote have better access to their ballot, therefore enabling greater participation in our democracy.  Young people, women, people of color and LGBTQ voters are engaging more and more on issues important to them.  We must work to restore the power of the Voting Rights Act and stand-up for the basic right to vote. 

Economic Fairness

This year, voters of all political persuasions made it clear that economic fairness is at the top of their minds, voting overwhelmingly in favor of ballot measures raising the minimum wage or requiring earned sick leave. This is just the beginning of an important conversation about creating an economy that works for everyone, through better wages, earned sick leave, better jobs and corporate accountability. 

LGBT people at work

In 32 states in the country, people can be fired simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Recently, we have passed many local protections in cities across the country, either through city councils or local ballot measures. However, we have also seen the opponents of equality win in places such as Chattanooga, Tennessee. We expect more of the same as the US Congress continues to stall the passage of strong federal employment non-discrimination legislation. 

Immigrant Rights

We’ve seen our nation’s broken immigration system play out not only with families being separated but also in attempts to deprive vulnerable people of something as basic as a driver card. We must work for fair immigration reform and more compassionate and inclusive communities – perhaps ballot measures can get us closer to this reform. 

Women’s Reproductive Health

Time and time again, when they are forced to cast a vote on a ballot measure on women’s health, the public generally votes to ensure health decisions are left to a woman in consultation with her family, her faith, and her doctor — not the government. Two states (Colorado and North Dakota) had measures on Tuesday’s ballot that, if passed, would have been the most extreme anti-abortion laws in the country. Both were defeated.  It’s clear that voters are sick of these continued attacks on women.  We are ready to translate that momentum into proactive ballot measure efforts expanding access to reproductive and preventative health care in coming years. 

The coalition that could be forged by uniting across these issues would be strong enough to create progress on all of them. 

There is a real hunger for change in this country. But to realize it we must work together to advance our positions on liberty and fight discrimination against LGBTQ people, women, minorities, young people and the poor.   

To break down the barriers that exist between us, we must be self-aware enough to know they are there; we must focus beyond our narrow self-interests; and we must create a shared vision because together we can deliver real freedom, justice and equality for everyone.

Sarver is executive director at Ballot Initiative Strategy Center; Carey is executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force.