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About the Film

At a time when confidence in our democracy is at historic lows, Majority Rules offers something rare: a clear, compelling look at a real solution. Through the lens of Alaska's groundbreaking election reforms, this 30-minute documentary illustrates how voters can reclaim power and bring about fairer, more representative elections.

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Driving Question

What do you want out of your government?

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Discussing Democracy

and Majority Rules

While watching the film, what surprised you most? What was the most important thing you learned from the film?

Does the current system offer enough choice for voters? Explain your answer.

Would election reforms make you more likely to engage in political action? Would advocating for election reform be something you might consider doing?

How might campaigns change over time in states with these reforms? What questions would you have for someone advocating for election reform?

How different might our political landscape look if there were more consensus in state legislatures and in the national legislature?

What does the possibility of voting in the future mean to you? Are you interested/eager to vote? Why or why not?

Notes for Discussion Leader (not to be read aloud, but read by the leader BEFORE presenting)

The primary objective of this discussion of the film Dark Money is to educate individuals about the realities of dark money as a political tool and to, thus, highlight the importance of political action to counter the effects of dark money.

Look over the guide before the discussion begins and identify the sections and/or questions that will be most important to the audience of the event. Do not feel obligated to go through every detail of the section or every question, but let the audience’s interests and needs guide the discussion as you use the aspects of the guide that are most relevant for the setting you are in. You may decide to move through some slides more quickly or to skip over them. Know your audience and use this guide wisely to achieve the objectives listed above.

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USEFUL TERMS

All-candidate primary ballot: Open, all-candidate primary ballots are ballots that increase voter choice and voice regarding selection of the primary candidates that will represent them. These types of elections often push politicians to listen to all of their constituents and put country over party to deliver real solutions. (https://www.uniteamerica.org/open-primaries)

Ballot initiative: A citizen-initiated ballot measure. The ballot initiative process allows citizens to propose statutes or constitutional amendments, depending on the state, and collect signatures to place their proposals on the ballot for voters to decide. (https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_initiative)

Consensus: A general agreement. In politics, consensus is achieved as individuals work to find common ground.

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USEFUL TERMS

Election reform: A change in electoral systems, often driven by individuals/voters seeking to improve representation

Open primary: In open primaries, the Democratic and Republican parties hold separate primary elections, but all registered voters, regardless of party, can choose which party’s primary they would like to participate in. (https://www.uniteamerica.org/articles/types-of-primary-systems-explained)

Closed primary: In closed primaries, only voters registered with a political party have a guaranteed right to vote in primaries. Independent voters are barred from participating in primaries unless the parties establish a rule allowing them to participate. (https://www.findlaw.com/voting/how-u-s-elections-work/what-is-an-open-primary.html)

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USEFUL TERMS

Party primary: In a party primary, eligible voters cast ballots to select the party’s official nominee for the general election.

Non-partisan: In politics, not partisan, not bound by party affiliation.

Partisan: In politics, a firm adherent or allegiance to a party affiliations.

To Primary (someone)(to be primaried or being primaried): To challenge an incumbent elected official specifically because they are not sufficiently partisan (hence, to be primaried, or being primaried).

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USEFUL TERMS

Primary elections: Elections held ahead of general elections in order to determine the candidates who are able to run in the general election

Ranked choice voting: An election method in which voters rank candidates for an office in order of their preference (first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on). (https://www.rcvresources.org/what-is-rcv/)

Referendum: The principle or practice of submitting to popular vote a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiative. (Merriam-Webster)

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Extension Activities

In most states, voter engagement in primary elections is often in the range of 7%–17%. In small groups or individually, have learners create a social media campaign whose goal is to increase voter turnout in primary elections. In addition to creating the campaign, learners should also present this social media campaign to the learning group and explain why it was created in this way and why it would be effective.

In small groups or individually, have learners create an infographic that explains ranked choice voting. (In small groups with poster paper is a process that could limit the use of AI for this activity.)

Divide your learners into groups. Assign each group 2–4 states to research. (Pull from 2–4 different categories of primary states as seen on the map available at the end of this slide show. Do not show the map to learners until after their project is complete.) Make sure at least one group researches the state where learners live. Have learners research what primary system is used in each of the states they are assigned as well as voter turnout in those states. Then have learners present their findings to the class/learning environment.

Use this RankedVote resource or Fair Vote resource to conduct a classroom/learner group election. After the election, discuss as a class/learning group the way this election is different from other election experiences that students/learners may have experienced.