We’re not just a new party, we’re a new kind of party.

The Maryland Forward believes that every voice should be heard. American citizens should be empowered to fairly choose their own candidates and then decide who is best suited to represent their community. We want elections to be inclusive, fair, and available to share new ideas.

Voting Reforms

• * Promotes majority support: Ranked-choice voting ensures that the winning candidate has the support of a majority of voters. This is because the candidate who wins must receive more than 50% of the votes, which means they have to be the preferred candidate of a majority of voters.

• * Reduces strategic voting: In a traditional “first-past-the-post” system, voters may feel pressured to vote for the “lesser of two evils” instead of their preferred candidate to avoid “wasting” their vote. Ranked-choice voting eliminates this issue by allowing voters to rank their preferred candidates in order, without worrying about spoilers or wasted votes.

• * Encourages positive campaigning: Candidates in a ranked-choice voting system are incentivized to reach out to a broader range of voters and appeal to a wider base of support, rather than just their core supporters. This can lead to more positive campaigning and fewer negative attacks on opponents.

• * Saves money: By eliminating the need for primary elections and runoffs, ranked-choice voting can save money for both taxpayers and campaigns. It can also increase voter turnout by reducing the number of times voters need to go to the polls.

 

Open Non-Partisan Primaries

• * Expands voter participation: Nonpartisan primaries can encourage more people to participate in the election process, especially independents and members of minor parties who might not have a chance to vote in a closed primary.

• * Reduces polarization: By allowing voters from different parties to participate in the same primary, nonpartisan primaries can foster more moderate candidates who are less likely to be extreme and more willing to compromise. This can help reduce the polarization that often characterizes modern politics.

• * Increases accountability: Nonpartisan primaries can make candidates more accountable to the broader electorate, not just the members of their own party. Candidates may be less likely to cater to the interests of the extreme factions of their party and more likely to listen to the needs and concerns of all voters.

• * Lowers costs: Nonpartisan primaries can save taxpayers money by consolidating multiple primaries into a single election. This can reduce the costs of administering the primaries and encourage more people to vote in a single, unified election.

• * Improves representation: Nonpartisan primaries can ensure that the eventual winner of an election is truly representative of the entire electorate, not just a small segment of the population. This can help to promote diversity and inclusivity in the political process.

 

Independent Redistricting Commissions

• * Decreases gerrymandering: One of the primary benefits of independent redistricting commissions is that they can help eliminate the manipulation of district boundaries in order to give one political party an advantage over another. Independent commissions are less likely to draw districts that favor one political party over another, as their members are not motivated by the same political interests as elected officials or political parties.

• * Increases fairness: Independent redistricting commissions can also help ensure that elections are more fair, by ensuring that electoral districts are drawn in a way that represents the interests of all voters in the area. This can help reduce the influence of special interests and ensure that voters have a greater say in the electoral process.

• * Improves representation: Independent redistricting commissions can also help ensure that underrepresented communities have a voice in the political process. This can be especially important for minority communities, who may be marginalized or excluded from the political process due to gerrymandering or other systemic factors.

• * Restores public trust: Independent redistricting commissions can help increase public trust in the electoral process, by ensuring that district boundaries are drawn in a transparent and impartial way. This can help reduce concerns about electoral fraud, and ensure that the electoral process is legitimate and fair.