Introducing The Pathfinder A New Monthly Column From Ballotpedia

If you’ve looked online for a sample ballot or searched for unbiased information about a candidate, ballot measure, or policy initiative, you’ve almost certainly come across Ballotpedia, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit whose mission is to... We interviewed Ballotpedia’s founder and CEO Leslie Graves to find out more about their work, the expertise they bring as partners to Preserving Democracy, and to get a sense of what readers can look... Preserving Democracy: I’d love to hear some background on how and why you founded Ballotpedia. How did the organization come to life? Leslie Graves: Really – in 2006 at my kitchen table. I know it sounds cliche, but I was trying to find an unbiased source of information on ballot measures for an upcoming election.

I was struck by two things: The general lack of available information in easy-to-understand language and if any information on those initiatives existed at all, it was almost always partisan. Ultimately, I made it my mission to provide information voters could trust, with verifiable facts, and absolutely no spin. It was an immediate hit with readers, and the rest, as they say, is history. We are pleased to introduce "The Pathfinder" a new monthly column from Ballotpedia. It is published as part of PBS's "Preserving Democracy" initiative, created by WNET, America's flagship PBS station. Take a look at the first column, explaining the history of Ballotpedia as well as our goals for the future: https://lnkd.in/gV-a-CAg

The issue to watch in 2024 has been around for more than a century, but has only recently become a potentially transformative force in state and local elections. Off-cycle elections like those held in New Jersey, Maine, Virginia and several other states this year routinely see less than a 25% voter turnout. We interviewed Ballotpedia founder Leslie Graves to find out more about their work, the expertise they bring, and to get a sense of what readers can look forward to in Graves’ new monthly column. In her monthly column with PBS's Preserving Democracy, BP Founder, Leslie Graves, talks about food as a metaphor for voting: it is best when savored and enjoyed. Much like the "slow food" movement, founded in Rome, "slow voting" is an antidote to the oversimplified and fast-paced nature of American politics. The voting process deserves a thoughtful and meaningful approach.

Remember to take time to understand the issues and candidates on the ballot. Read Leslie's full column here: https://lnkd.in/dpcdBFk8 Why not articles on all the ways the votes are undermined? Like the 17,000 votes in Fulton County Georgia that can't be proven to be real? Yet those 17,000 were sufficient to change the results. The 2024 elections were nothing short of tumultuous.

As is normal following a major election, some feel elated – things could not be any better! Others feel discouraged and angry – things could not get any worse! Those emotional responses are understandable, but they don’t begin to tell the whole story of what happened, why it happened, or what will happen next. Can history be a guide? Perhaps. Recent history shows that political majorities are fleeting, realignments are fragile, and the only constant is how powerfully and quickly democracy can change course.

Think back to 2008 and Obama’s historic victory with nearly 53 percent of the vote. Before the 2008 U.S. Senate elections, Democrats had 49 seats. After that election, they had 57. There were 236 Democrats in the U.S. House before the 2008 elections.

When it was over, they had expanded their majority to 257. In other words, Democrats had a strong trifecta in the federal government and were well-positioned to advance their agenda. For some commentators, these Democratic gains represented a “fundamental political realignment.” In answer to your question: Yes, American politics has never been like this before. Never have we seen one major party’s candidate withdraw on the eve of its national convention while the other major party nominee is wounded in an assassination attempt. The only response to these extraordinary times is to unequivocally reject hyperbole, rancor, and violence, and to demand that those who seek public office do the same.

Not just for a day or a news cycle. But permanently – starting right now, with the elections underway for offices at all levels of government. That seems like an impossible thing to ask. After all, politics has always been a rough business. Our political history is littered with examples of very tough, even reprehensible, rhetoric. We’ve had plenty of violence, too.

Our nation has managed to overcome these failings, and maintain its progress toward a more just, humane, and inclusive democracy. It has taken time, effort, and leadership – not from the press, academia, or elected officials, but from the general public. This time is no different. The first step is the easiest. We need to step away from our screens, take a very deep breath, and slowly exhale.

People Also Search

• Introducing The Pathfinder - A New Monthly Column from Ballotpedia ...
• Ballotpedia's CEO and Founder Leslie Graves: "The Pathfinder"
• From the desk of Leslie Graves - Ballotpedia
• Leslie Graves, Ballotpedia Founder and CEO - PBS
• The Pathfinder: Slow Down and Savor Voting - LinkedIn
• Ballotpedia's CEO Leslie Graves with PBS/WNET's Preserving Democracy
• Let History Be A Guide | Preserving Democracy | PBS
• Ballotpedia
• Getting to Work | Preserving Democracy | PBS