Democracy and Voters' Rights - Randy Downs for Ward 2

Democracy and Voting Rights

The foundation of our democracy is the promise we keep to voters that elections are safe, accessible, and fair. Covid-19 changed many parts of our daily lives and our elections are no exception. At a time when we’re trying to avoid large crowds, the last place many want to be is standing in line at a polling center.

It’s not just the mechanics of voting, but our local electoral system should be changed as well to fully embody democratic values. Candidates who are elected to represent the Ward on every key issue should win a majority of votes, not just a plurality. I look forward to reviewing and reforming the District’s voting policies so that we can ensure that voting is safe, fair, and truly democratic.

As your Councilmember, I will:

Work to ensure mail-in voting is available– and works– for every voter in the District.
Support ranked choice voting.
Make sure the DC Board of Elections has the resources to lead robust, safe, and secure election efforts.

More Issue Areas

Browse the issues below and learn more about those principles.

Education

A high-quality education is a cornerstone to creating opportunities for each individual, and therefore to create an equitable and prosperous Ward and District overall.

Community-Focused Public Safety

The District should approach public safety with policies that are based on evidence. We should not entrust the safety of our communities with purely reactive measures but instead, invest in preventing crime and violence before they start.

Recovering from COVID-19

Since the onset of the pandemic, the city has taken important steps to address and minimize the spread of Covid-19. We know that helping each other stay healthy and safe means taking important steps like wearing a mask and social distancing.

Democracy and Voters’ Rights

The foundation of our democracy is the promise we keep to voters that elections are safe, accessible, and fair. Covid-19 changed many parts of our daily lives and our elections are no exception.

Housing Affordability

The high and rising cost of housing has made it hard for many residents to maintain the life they envision here in Ward 2. Our long-standing residents must be able to remain in their homes and new neighbors shouldn’t be deterred from joining our community by unaffordable housing.

Environment and Sustainability

We are experiencing a climate crisis that will negatively impact almost every aspect of our lives and threaten the future of our planet. Energy costs will get more expensive, food supply chains will be threatened, and temperatures will rise.

Jobs and Small Businesses

As a former service industry worker and restaurant manager, I know how small businesses struggle to keep their doors open in a tough market and an expensive city. Even before the pandemic, Ward 2’s commercial corridors were dealing with high vacancies as rents went up and business owners pinched and saved to get by.

Transportation and Public Spaces

While we’ve seen some progress towards preventing traffic injuries and fatalities, the District has generally moved incredibly slow at improving our transportation infrastructure and making our streets safe for everyone.

LGBTQ Community Affairs

The District has been a national leader on pro-LGBTQ policies for decades. From repealing the anti-sodomy law in 1993, establishing the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs in 2006, and legalizing same-sex marriage in 2010, the District has been ahead of almost any other city in the nation.