MassForward: Advancing Democratic Innovation and Electoral Reform in Massachusetts

Low voter turnout. Non-competitive elections. Officeholders who don’t necessarily reflect the diversity of the communities they represent. The critiques of current election policies are easy to cite, but how serious are they? And what are the solutions?

Those are some of the issues and contexts for a forum and new report by MassINC and the Tisch College of Civic Life that examines the extent of our challenges and their roots, and presents a comprehensive set of reforms and innovations to fortify democracy at the state and local levels.

The opening presentation was followed by a conversation with a panel of leaders who offer a wide-range of perspectives on workable solutions to these pressing challenges.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Paul S. Grogan, President & CEO, The Boston Foundation

Presentation of Report

Peter Levine, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship

& Public Affairs, Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University

Panel Discussion

Jay R. Kaufman, Retired State Representative (D), 15th Middlesex District,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Beth Lindstrom, Former Executive Director, Massachusetts Republican Party

Keith Mahoney, Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs,

The Boston Foundation (Moderator)

Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, PhD, Interim Director, Center for Women in Politics &

Public Policy; Interim Director, Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy

Graduate Certificate Program at UMass Boston

Pavel Payano, Councilor-at Large, City of Lawrence

Closing Remarks

Juana Matias, Chief Operating Officer, MassINC