democracy

November 3rd is the last day of voting. Not when a winner will be known. What are the other important dates?

There is hope in a malfunctioning gear. Its constant creaking alerts us to a problem and helps pinpoint the source.

The political media did almost everything wrong in covering the theft-and-leak of John Podesta’s private emails amid the heat of the 2016 presidential campaign, four years ago today—and yet it’s not at all clear that if confronted by an operation similar to what Russian intelligence executed in targeting the Democratic National Committee via Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair, that we’d get it any more right now.

OCTOBER 2, 2020 – With record levels of mail-in voting, counting could last days or—in some jurisdictions—weeks after election day, leaving a void for speculation about ballot-rigging or other improprieties, even if there’s no evidence of wrongdoing and counts are performing as intended. 

AUGUST 7, 2020 – This expert panel of city leaders, technologists, and innovators discuss why it is usually so hard to learn from failure in government and what governments and their allies can do about it.

The uses and effects of technological change permeate through all of our systems, including our democracy. How might we use and think about technology to better serve our democratic institutions?

Imagine if, with the coronavirus tearing through our country and demands for racial justice ringing in our ears, we could not use the word “failure.” How could we ever begin to fix what is broken if we couldn’t be honest about the brokenness in the first place? 

JUNE 9, 2020 – Officials face political and logistical pressure to execute a voting process that is secure, trusted, and safe. Hear from a state election official and voting experts on the opportunities and obstacles to overcome.

APRIL 9, 2020 – Would-be autocrats around the world are using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover for tightening their grip on power, and cracking down on journalism is the first order of business.

As we make space for more voices in our democracy, our civic identity gets richer, stronger and more honest. Join the conversation — what’s on your list?