Agenda - 12-04-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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I1: Civic Participation and Equality -3 ~ Equal Political Representation SO MUCH AT STAKE, YET SO LITTLE SAY Women have a tremendous amount at stake in our current political system. Their active participation as voters and candidates can impact important issues, including domestic violence, pay equity and health care, that affect their daily lives. Even though 55% of the registered voters in Nortli Carolina are women, they are sorely scarce in elected offices. Women hold less than one-fourth of the seats in the N.C. General Assembly, less than one-sixth of all elected offices and one-third of appointed seats on boards and commissions, despite research showing that a majority of likely voters are supportive of women as candidates. Voting is not enough. To gain real political power, we must elect people who truly understand women's concerns. REMOVING BARRIERS TO EQUAL PARTICIl'ATION We can help to even the playing field by expanding "Clean Elections," increasing voter participation and advocating women's appointment to state and local boards and commissions. Money is one reason that the composition ofpolicy-making bodies does not reflect women's voting strength. As campaign costs rise, those traditionally excluded from the political process -including women- are at a disadvantage and our voices are not heard. In NC, female candidates raise, on average, 85% of what male candidates raise and the candidate who raises the most wins nearly 90% of the time, leaving women facing stiff odds. "Clean Elections," as adopted in 2000 by Maine and Arizona, provide an alternative to the money chase, offering optional public funding to candidates who demonstrate broad community support and accept strict fundraising and spending limits. These states enjoyed an increase in women legislative candidates. Even . Arizona's governor, Janet Napolitano, ran as a Clean Elections. candidate. In 2002, the NC General Assembly passed the Judicial Campaign Reform Act, providing this alternative for NC appellate court candidates. In the 2005-2006 sessions, we must work to defend and fully fund the program and expand it to include other NC races. Women must also increase our role as voters. NC ranks among the worst 15 states in the nation for voter participation. While 55% of voters are women, hundreds of thousands of women currently don't vote. Same- day registration, a practical reform that was introduced in the 2005 session, is aUeady offered in the six states with. substantially higher voter participation than ours. Adoption would allow an unregistered, eligible voter to register and vote at an Early Voting Site -- all at the same time. Finally, we must encourage the appointment of qualified women to state and local boards and commissions and demand accurate and timely reporting of demographic data on appointees. Legislation passed in 1998 mandates proportional gender representation and requires annual reporting to the Secretary of State. We must urge the General Assembly to appropriate funds for this effort and to create a website to alert all NC citizens to openings on boards and commissions. RECOM~LIENDATIONS FOR ACTION... • The General Assembly should expand the Judicial Campaign Reform program to include General Assembly, Council of State, and Gubernatorial candidates, and authorize local communities to provide a public funding option in local races. 2006-2007 Women's D~°aftAgenda 9