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Democracy

The freedom to vote must be protected. Money in politics must be reduced. The democratic process must reflect our diverse electorate. Demos is committed to creating an inclusive democracy.

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The Need for Language Access
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What you need to know about federal voting requirements, state and local language access laws, and the linguistic diversity that makes multilingual election materials essential to protecting voting rights.

Learn More About Language Access
The Latest on Democracy
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Blog
Taifa Smith Butler

Making Real the Beloved Community

In her latest piece, Dēmos President Taifa Smith Butler imagines what it will take for us to build forward, guided by the principles that Dr. King described as the “beloved community.”

Voters of color at the voting booths

HB 219 – Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026

HB 219 strengthens Maryland’s democratic institutions, maintains the legacy of the federal 
Voting Rights Act, and ensures that voters possess robust tools to fight voter intimidation and 
suppressive election practices. 

Testimony and Public Comment
Angelo Ancheta
Black woman standing at a voting booth

HB 350 – Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026

The protections outlined in HB 350 are essential to ensuring that all Marylanders—particularly those from historically disenfranchised communities—have an equal opportunity to elect representatives of 
their choice.

Testimony and Public Comment
Angelo Ancheta
Woman voting at voting booth

The Costs of Implementing Documentary Proof of Citizenship Bills

As states across the country consider Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) requirements in the wake of the federal SAVE Act’s reintroduction, one fundamental issue has gone largely overlooked: What do these laws actually cost states?

Research
Lata Nott
Victoria Hammitt
Neda Khoshkhoo
Nick Harper
Joshua Harmon
Lucas Della Ventura
Demos
The Campaign Legal Center
State Voices
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Meet the Experts
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Angelo Ancheta
Senior Research and Policy Counsel
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Neda Khoshkhoo
Associate Director, Democracy
In Depth
Voting Rights & Voter Access
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Money in Politics
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Our Data Tool
The Power Scorecard
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The Power Scorecard measures the economic, civic, and political conditions that determine who holds power in our economy and democracy. Explore the data and join us in the work to shift power back to the people.

Explore the Power Map
Explore Other Issues
Economic Justice
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The current go-it-alone economic system has created record inequality and stalled mobility for the next generation. A new paradigm must be created.

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