1 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Each week right here, we come together and talk about 3 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: all the topics important to you and the place where 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: you live. Good to be back with you this week. 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: I'm Nicole Davis. As we approach the November election in 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: a matter of months, we've got quite a few ballot 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: questions making their way around Beacon Hill. Depending on how 8 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: lawmakers handle them over the next few months, many of 9 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: those questions could end up being on the ballot when 10 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: you walk into the voting booth. Every so often here 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: until the election, I'm going to highlight the campaigns behind 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: these ballot questions. The aim here is to help you 13 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: learn a bit more about their efforts and what they 14 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: want you to consider. Now, we've done one of these 15 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: interviews already with legalized starter homes. If you haven't heard it, 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: it's up on the podcast and you can go check 17 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: that out anywhere you get your podcasts anyway. The next 18 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,319 Speaker 1: round of primary elections in Massachusetts is coming up on 19 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: September first, and here in the base state. How they're 20 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: done is pretty straightforward. If you're registered as a Democrat, 21 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: you get a Democratic ballot. If you are registered as Republican, 22 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 1: you get a Republican ballot. Technically, you can change your affiliation. 23 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: But what if there's just a couple candidates or ideas 24 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: you want to see advance? Do you go through all 25 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: that just for that? That's one of the many questions 26 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: the Coalition for Healthy Democracy is tackling with their proposal. 27 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: They are pushing for something called all party primaries. Let's 28 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: learn more about their idea now from Danielle Allen. She's 29 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: a former gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts. Right now she is 30 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: the director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at 31 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: the Harvard Kennedy School. Danielle, it's great to have you here, 32 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: and let's just jump in. Where did this idea come. 33 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: From a few years ago, I spent a lot of 34 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 2: time visiting with folks around the commonwealths talking about public 35 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: problems and challenges. And I kept hearing from people really 36 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: crisp diagnosis of challenges they were facing, whether that was 37 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: asthma in Springfield or housing all over the Commonwealth. And 38 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: then they have great solutions too about what to do 39 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: about it. And then I would ask them, you know, 40 00:01:58,120 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: if they're going to vote, and they would say no. 41 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: So after a lot of that kind of experience. I 42 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: dug into more research around the question, went back to 43 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: ask people, you know, well, why not why aren't you voting? 44 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: And it was basically the same answer over and over again. 45 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: There's no choice on the ballot. And it's true in 46 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: Massachusetts we have less choice than any other state in 47 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: the country. In the last decade, half of our races 48 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 2: have had only one candidate in either the primary or 49 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: the general. So this is a way of rebooting competition, 50 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: making sure that nobody's vote could be taken for granted 51 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: because races are competitive, and making sure that our elected officials, 52 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: whether in the state legislature where our congressional delegation, or 53 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 2: in our state wide constitutional officers, are always working for 54 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: the people. What it involves is very familiar from municipal elections. 55 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: It's where all candidates from all parties run on the 56 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: same primary ballot or preliminary ballot, and then the top 57 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: two candidates go forward to the general. The difference from 58 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: a municipal election like Boston that's often called a non 59 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 2: partisan primary, people don't run with their party label. This 60 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: is an all party primary, so everybody runs with party labels. 61 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: Parties can still make endorsements. Candidates could actually carry more 62 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: than one endorsement, so for example, you could be a 63 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: Democrat and also have say Working Families Party endorsement or 64 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: something of that kind. But the point is all candidates 65 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: run the same first ballot, Top two go forward. This 66 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 2: is for state legislative races and for our statewide offices, 67 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: so congress races, Senate races, and then constitutional officers. What 68 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 2: it means for voters is that when you step into 69 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: the voting booths, you don't have to pick a dumb 70 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: ballot or Republican ballot. You get one ballot with all 71 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: the choices on it, so you always have a choice. 72 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: Why do you think we have so many uncontested races 73 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: here in Massachusetts? I mean, obviously with this as a 74 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: very blue state, there's not a lot of Republican representation 75 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: on Beacon Hill and otherwise do you think that's a 76 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: factor or what do you think is driving this well? 77 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: I mean, see there have been a lot of developments 78 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: over time that has contributed to it. I mean it's 79 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 2: not you know, one party states generally, do you see 80 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: a kind of drying up of competition? And that is 81 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: also about how the sort of party infrastructure works, that's 82 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: a piece of it. And so what we see for 83 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 2: the states that have made this transition, whether that's California 84 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: or Washington or Alaska, they definitely see an increase in 85 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 2: competitive elections. So it really is about that, just that 86 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: every single race will have all the candidates on the 87 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: same ballot, and that provides incentives for people to step up. 88 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: We also have the most restrictive rules for candidates to 89 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: access the ballot of any state in the country. So 90 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: that's another reason that competition has been driven out of 91 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: our system in Massachusetts, and I feel. 92 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: Like a lot of people are either unenrolling, becoming independent, 93 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: maybe going to third party. How would this impact them. 94 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: That's such an important question, Thank you for asking it. 95 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: So sixty five percent of voters in Massachusetts are not 96 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 2: enrolled in a party, and so this is just really 97 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: enfranchising all those voters. It means those voters when they 98 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: walk into the voting booth, they get a ballot with 99 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: all the choices they don't have to pick. So, for example, 100 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 2: right now, if you're an unenrolled voter, come September, you're 101 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: gonna have to decide do you cast your vote in 102 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 2: the competitive Senate primary between Senator Markey and Rep. Molten, 103 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: or do you cast your vote in their competitive republicanbinatorial primary. 104 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 2: You can't cast your vote in both, you have to pick. 105 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: So this way, if you're an unreall voter, no longer 106 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 2: do you have to pick. You could cast your vote 107 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 2: in both of those competitive races for example. And also 108 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 2: really importantly, unenrolled voters could now run as a part 109 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 2: of that primary process. They can be on the ballot 110 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: as an unrolled person in that same moment when Republicans 111 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: and Democrats, or Forward Party members or Green Party members 112 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: or Working Family Parties members are also putting themselves forward. 113 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 2: So it really re enfranchises people both as voters and 114 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 2: as candidates. 115 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: It would be nice to see a Pizza Party or 116 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,679 Speaker 1: a Pirate Party person on the ballot once in a while. 117 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: There you go exactly choice, lots of real choice. 118 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: We do like choice. And you know, it's important to 119 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: note here there's been a lot of talk about ranked 120 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: choice voting like they have in Maine and some other states. 121 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: This is not the same thing, correct. 122 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: Correct, I mean, you know, we did have a chance 123 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 2: to take a look at rank choice voting a few 124 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: years back. I had to admit as a personal matter, 125 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 2: I am a huge fan of rank choice voting. I 126 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: chair the board of Fair Vote, which is ranked choice 127 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 2: voting organization. This measure does not have ranked choice voting 128 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 2: in it. It is compatible if people wanted to do 129 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 2: that later down the line with rank choice voting. But 130 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: this is just a very straightforward. You know, we have 131 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: a familiar thing that we do in municipal elections where 132 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: all the candidates run on the same first bout and 133 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: the top two go forward. This is taking that thing 134 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: that we're familiar with and then also doing it for 135 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: state legislative races, for federal races, not including president, and 136 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: for constitutional officers. 137 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: Okay, now, people who generally run as Democrats are Republicans 138 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: because they're the more they're they're the parties that have 139 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: been around more consistently. Here, they have a lot more money, 140 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: is where I'm getting at. How is this going to 141 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,119 Speaker 1: impact people who may be wanting to run as working 142 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: families or maybe wanting to run as a libertarian that 143 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: may not have the fiscal benefits of running in one 144 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: of the two biggest parties. 145 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, right now, you know money always makes 146 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: a difference in politics. And I think it's always it's 147 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: always a challenge, it's always a hurdle. We see incumbents 148 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: with a huge cash advantage in Massachusetts. They're able to 149 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: raise money while they're in office, and it's very hard 150 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 2: for incomers to catch up with them. And so in 151 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: that regard, this does you know, you have folks stepping 152 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: in to run and you'll have more people needing to 153 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 2: raise money for sure. And at the same time, Massachusetts 154 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: is a very powerful grassroots political state, and people are 155 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 2: able to build grassroots networks to counteract some of that 156 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: power that comes from money. I think we watched the 157 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: difference between grassroots power and money in the Boston mayoral 158 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 2: election when Michelle Wu you know, sort of handily defeated 159 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 2: Josh Kraft. So in other words, I don't think this 160 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: changes the challenges around money. We have challenges around money 161 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: that they will continue. We need campaign finance reform as well. 162 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: In particular, I would say we need public campaign finance 163 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 2: to balance what's available and so forth. But the point 164 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: is this doesn't change the fundamentals, and Massachusetts has the 165 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: advantage of its size, very strong history of grassroots politics 166 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 2: that we can see again, you know, in the examples 167 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: of example, Michelle wou versus Joshkraft. You know, money can't 168 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: buy an election in Massachusetts. 169 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: No, And this is big for representation, I feel, because 170 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: this allows people from communities that are more disenfranchised to 171 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: actually maybe have a shot through name recognition or other 172 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: ways that money really can't buy. 173 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,199 Speaker 2: Exactly, that's right. And essentially, you know, again, this is 174 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 2: a measure and that makes sure that no voter can 175 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: be taken for granted. And so for communities of color 176 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 2: and the commonwealthy to the NAACP is an endorser of 177 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 2: this measure, for example, and that is major motivation, so 178 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: that voters can't be taken for granted. And when voters 179 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 2: can't be taken for granted from all of the different 180 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: communities in the Commonwealth, that also opens up pathways of 181 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 2: electability for diversity of candidates. 182 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: So let's talk about your campaign. Who is behind this. 183 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: Tell me a little bit about your nonprofit and the 184 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: people who are working to get this done well. 185 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,839 Speaker 2: The ballot committee is called the Coalition for Healthy Democracy. 186 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 2: It's a five O one C four. I'm the conveniing 187 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: chair of the campaign. Manager is Jesse Littlewood. He comes 188 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 2: from Common Cause, and we have a network of people 189 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 2: around the state who are working on this. So we 190 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: have Indivisible Chapters who have endorsed this initiative, We have 191 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 2: members of Democratic town committees who have endorsed this initiative. 192 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: We have several student groups and organizations that are going 193 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 2: to be having campaign launches around the Commonwealth in the 194 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: weeks ahead. I guess the other really important thing to 195 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 2: say is that this really is a measure that is 196 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 2: about healthy democracy, and so we do have a big 197 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 2: bipartisan intent. So our endorsers include former Governor Daval Patrick 198 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 2: on the Democratic side, former Lieutenant Governor Carrie Healey on 199 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: the Republican side for chairff mas dev with the NC, 200 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 2: Steve Grossman, former chair of the mass Up Jennifer Nasser. 201 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 2: So this is, you know, really where people who recognize 202 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: that we have a problem in our politics of our 203 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 2: politics being captured by entrenched interests and not really being 204 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 2: for that people are working for the people. Everybody who 205 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: recognizes that problem, regardless of what party they're in, is 206 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 2: excited about this measure. So it's a big tent that 207 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: we're building. 208 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, if people are curious, they want to get involved. 209 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: They want to find out more, look into the research 210 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: you've done here. How can they connect with you? 211 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 2: Coalition for Healthydemocracy dot org is the website and they 212 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: will find lots of information. FAQ's a review of the 213 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: specifics of the measure as well. So Coalition for Healthy 214 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 2: Democracy all one word is very long. I'm sorry about that, 215 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: but that Culture for Healthy Democracy dot org. 216 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: I think that's fine, all right. Coalition for Healthy Democracy 217 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: dot org. Danielle Allen, interesting information. Thank you so much 218 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: for taking the time and sharing this with us. 219 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: Thank you, Nicole, I appreciate it. 220 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join us again 221 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole 222 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.