Press Release
August 2, 2024
Small Businesses applaud Initiative 83 being on ballot
Opens up voting participation to all registered voters
Washington, DC—The Business for Democracy-DC collaborative is dedicated to protecting and strengthening democracy. It applauds the approval of Initiative 83 to be on the November ballot.
Initiative 83 would allow voters to rank their choice of candidates on a ballot according to their preference. This election system results in candidates with a majority of voter support, not just a plurality, to win. Initiative 83 would also permit any voter who is not registered with a political party to vote in any primary.
“Businesses want a well-functioning government with elected officials who are committed to solving problems by listening to all voters including small businesses. Initiative 83 will achieve this goal,” said Jim Epstein, DC native, Chair of the Business for Democracy-DC collaborative, entrepreneur and business investor. “Ranked choice voting encourages civility in campaigning and finding common ground on issues across a broad spectrum of voters.”
“Not allowing independent voters to participate in primaries that they pay for with their tax dollars is undemocratic and unfair,” said Kimberley Jutze, owner of Shifting Patterns Consulting and a member of the Business for Democracy-DC steering committee. “Initiative 83 will open up DC’s primaries so that all voters have a say in deciding which candidates are on the general election ballot.”
Business for Democracy-DC is a campaign of the American Sustainable Business Network working to raise the voice of small businesses as to the critical need to protect and strengthen democracy because it is essential for a vibrant entrepreneurial economy.
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Contact:
Jim Epstein, jimepstein58@gmail.com, 202-409-5994
Kimberley Jutze, kjutze@shifting-patterns.com, 202-643-6521
Frank Knapp, businessfordemocracyus@gmail.com, 803-600-6874