Fair Representation

A true representative democracy will not be realized until the rules and structures for determining representation are reconfigured to redistribute power to the entire electorate, so that communities choose who represents them. As such, the Foundation invests in redistricting reform to remedy the severe gerrymandering prevalent in Great Lakes states and to identify solutions to other laws that undermine voters’ ability to determine who represents them.

Goal: Representation is determined by the electorate in a fair, transparent, and accountable process.

Objectives:

  • Support adoption and implementation of fair redistricting policies and practices within the Great Lakes states.
    • We will support proactive efforts to achieve reform, as well as implementation in states that have adopted redistricting reform to help them run effectively and to learn from their experiences. We will also support defensive work to push back against gerrymandering and other efforts to draw districts behind closed doors.
  • Identify, assess, and recommend reforms for other laws or policies that undermine voters’ ability to determine who represents them.
    • Redistricting is only one component of representation. There are other structures that stand in the way of voters truly getting to choose who represents them, such as poorly conceived term limits and the Electoral College. This initiative will reach beyond redistricting to assess what other structures undermine voter choice and determine the best ways to correct the problems.
News

Joyce Democracy Grantees Ramp Up Great Lakes Voter Education, Protection Efforts

Democracy nonpartisan organizations working to get out the vote in Great Lakes region.

In The Media

How a Philanthropic Bet on Violence Intervention Is Winning Public Dollars

State, local, and city agencies are investing about $150 million this year in a variety of community violence-intervention strategies that philanthropy is road-testing. Read more about how the Joyce Foundation and others are stepping in to fund CVI work.

Source
The Chronicle of Philanthropy

News

Poll Gauges Public Attitudes toward Political Violence in the United States

The Joyce Foundation, Trusted Elections Fund, and The Klarman Family Foundation initiated a public opinion research project exploring the public’s view of, and reaction to, political violence and extremism.

News

The Foundation's statement on the Bruen case ruling

The Supreme Court’s ruling today in the Bruen case will make communities across America less safe. A large and growing body of evidence demonstrates that the mere presence of a firearm increases the risk of injury and death.

Policy Watch

Fairer Redistricting Initiatives Advance in Michigan and Ohio

Joyce grantees in Michigan and Ohio have played integral roles advancing policy for fairer implementation of legislative districts for all citizens in those states.