Digital Democracy Endorsed by Candidates for Congress from 13 States
Candidates of all parties agree that digital democracy can empower citizens and increase U.S. Representative accountability. Legislative preference polls, or p-poll for short, would make the will of the people visible on House bills. Giving every citizen a voice makes democracy digital.
Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) October 22, 2008 -- Twenty-three candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives have contacted Auroras Voice to express their support for digital democracy.
Digital democracy refers to the ability of individual citizens to express their preference in a poll regarding House bills up for a vote. Publishing the results of a legislative preference poll, or p-poll for short, could make the will of the people visible on any given House bill, thus holding U.S. Representatives more accountable.
Candidates who support the p-poll are as follows: Scott Summers (IL-16), Max W. Koch (TX-6), Michael Idrogo (TX-20), Mike Carroll (OH-4), George F. Mays (OH-5), Michael Meo (OR-3), Michael D. LaForest (WI-4), Doug Patterson (OR-5), Martin L. Buchanan (CO-1), Robert Litoff (TX-20), James Stutsman (TX-25), Cris Ericson (VT-AL), David Browning (MO-6), Roy Carter (NC-5), Sean Bates (OR-5), Thomas Hermann (VT-AL), Ken Capalbo (RI-1), John J. Tatar (MI-11), Chandler Tedholm (NJ-11), Gregory Kahn (LA-2), Collins Bailey (MD-5), Tristin Mock (OR-2), Roger Owen (TX-1).
In September and October, Auroras Voice, a not-for-profit non-partisan organization, contacted roughly one thousand candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives to educate them about the historic opportunity to institute a national legislative preference poll, something that the Internet has recently made possible. Candidates were urged to voice their support ahead of the election.
Several candidates indicated that they would implement legislative preference polls if elected. Mike Carroll of Ohio wrote, "I absolutely love the idea of p-polling (constituents), and when elected will embrace it." Michael LaForest from Wisconsin also promised to adopt a digital democracy policy, writing: "It is my intention to poll my constituents prior to every vote if I am elected in November."
Other candidates asserted the representative's freedom in the face of empowered citizens. Michael Meo from Oregon said that the while a p-poll would strengthen the average citizen's position in the process of legislation, "that in no way commits me to vote mechanically according to the majority of (poll) votes." Likewise, Martin Buchanan of Colorado said, "If I am in Congress I will vote my conscience on each issue, but the p-poll would help me better understand the desires and positions of my constituents."
Many candidates who responded were enthusiastic about the potential of digital democracy to amplify the people's voice. "This is overdue," said Max W. Koch of Texas. Representatives and others should, he continued, "hear the voice of the people in a direct no-nonsense way." Thomas Hermann, a candidate from Vermont, observed that the p-poll would give every citizen a voice in between elections, something they have never had before.
House candidates who support digital democracy are affiliated with major and minor parties: Republican, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, Progressive, and Constitution. Several supportive candidates belong to no party. An interactive list of all candidates who endorse the p-poll is available at p-poll.org/event.
About Auroras Voice
Auroras Voice wishes to vest citizens with legitimate political power. Our current goal is to require U.S. Representatives to poll their constituents on bills up for a vote and to publish the results at house.gov. Pablo del Real, our founder, is the author of P-poll: are you happy now?
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