Take Action
"Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO." Doris "Granny D" Haddock
Here's how you can take action!
Click to learn how to...
Join a Regional Democracy Team
Join the "Campaign Finance Corruption Chorus"
Take the Practicing Democracy Pledge
About Open Democracy Teams
The Regional Democracy Teams are a collaborative of Granite Staters across NH taking weekly steps to make the promise of democracy real for all. Since inception in 2019, the Teams have collectively taken thousands of actions to protect the freedom to vote, limit the influence of wealthy special interest money in politics, and advocate for fair redistricting maps.
"Democracy isn't something we HAVE, it's something we DO." - Doris "Granny D" Haddock, founder
The Teams are open to all, whether or not you have experience "doing" democracy or are joining for the first time. In the spirit of our founder Doris "Granny D" Haddock, who at 89 years old walked across the United States for campaign finance reform, the Teams are a testament to the power of everyday people to make change.
Go to the Regional Teams sign-up page HERE
Photo credit: Ann Ravel
Sample actions the Teams have taken: Calls/letters to local and state elected officials, marches, testifying at public hearings on legislation, writing letters to the editor, holding signs for bills or causes, educating the public, social media campaigns, bird-dogging, performances by the "Corruption Chorus", street theater performances, and more!
No matter your skill-set, there is a way you can get involved!
Time to Take Action-
Join a Regional Democracy Team HERE
Birddogging
Advocates who feel passionately about issues can create change by "bird-dogging" candidates for national, state, and local offices.
Bird-dogging means finding opportunities in public forums to ask candidates specific questions or share information that reveals (and sometimes changes) their views.
New Hampshire's First-In-The Nation primary, which demands that candidates meet and answer questions from voters, and which is covered extensively by national and international news media, is the perfect place to bird-dog presidential hopefuls. However, local races matter, and it's also important to bird-dog state and local candidates.
You can find high quality, up to date information on candidate events using the Bird Dog NH New Hampshire Candidate Events Calendar.
Need a question for the presidential candidates? We suggest these:
- I agree with many people in government who say that the way campaigns are funded results in an uneven playing field--big-money donors and lobbyists have too much influence on laws and policies. Would you support campaign finance reform on the federal level, and if so, what type of system would you propose to return government to the people?
- Poll after poll tell us that New Hampshire voters are hungry for solutions that reduce the power of wealthy donors in political campaigns and give everyday people a stronger voice. Would you support campaign finance reform, and if so, what type of system do you think would return government to the people?
- 80% of voters see big money in elections as a problem. They know that, compared to big-money donors and lobbyists, they have no voice. Do you believe its time for Congress to fix to the way elections are funded, and if so, what solution would you propose?
We hope you get your question answered. If you do, please let us know! Try to get the candidate response on video or audio record, and send that to Olivia