Platform

Martin O’Malley’s Democracy Issues Platform

Former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-Md.) offers this framework for democracy reform on the “Vision” page of his website:

PUT ELECTIONS BACK IN THE HANDS OF AMERICAN VOTERS

Restoring our economy requires us to revitalize our democracy. We must return to a government of, by, and for the people—one that builds an economy that works for everyone and ensures voters’ voices are heard. While fixing the Citizens United decision is important, we can’t afford to wait for a Constitutional amendment to solve the problem of out-of-control money in our political system.

We should start by embracing citizen-funded elections, to reduce the outsized influence of special interests and the very wealthy in our politics. Small donors should have their contributions matched by six-to-one or more, and be rewarded through a refundable tax credit that encourages more people to give and participate. And we should make it easier, not harder, to vote – by modernizing registration, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and tearing down barriers like ID requirements that make it difficult for people to exercise their most fundamental right.