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MWEG Response to the 2024 Election Results
On November 5, 2024, millions of American citizens cast their votes for the next president of the United States, and Donald J. Trump emerged as the clear winner. As it was four years ago, the election was free and fair. In preparation for the election, our organization tirelessly worked alongside countless organizations and individuals to shore up our election systems against potential scenarios that would harm public trust. We acknowledge with gratitude the government employees, poll workers, and volunteers (including many members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government) who made this familiar process fair. Across the nation, a multitude of voters made significant sacrifices to cast their ballots, further affirming…
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Call to Action: Commit to Accept Election Results
With the 2024 presidential election less than two weeks away, many are feeling deep apprehension about how the electoral process will play out. We can feel confident, however, knowing that over the past four years, public servants, elected officials, and the American people have worked tirelessly to shore up the institutions, infrastructure, and systems that have ensured our freedom and protected our liberties for more than 200 years. These efforts have resulted in the most secure and safe elections in our nation’s history. Certainty in elections has sustained our country through wars, economic downturns, social unrest, and political transitions. Even when we are deeply divided, our reliance on an election’s outcomes…
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SCOTUS Decision on Presidential Immunity — An MWEG Interview With Expert Benjamin Wittes
Jessica Larson, MWEG’s senior director of advocacy, recently interviewed Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare and senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, about the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. Below is a summary of that conversation as well as the full video interview. On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled on presidential immunity in response to former President Trump’s federal indictment. The decision is a historic expansion of presidential immunity, leaving the lower courts with a lot to still determine. Since 1984, the president has had immunity from civil suits for official acts while in office. We have never had a president who…
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Press Conference Statement on UT Supreme Court Decision
The following statement was read by MWEG communications specialist Laura Lewis at a press conference at the Utah State Capitol. Mormon Women for Ethical Government is grateful to be here today alongside our fellow plaintiffs to celebrate this historic ruling. It is fitting that this victory for Utah voters was achieved by Utah voters – those who supported Prop 4, those who participated in the independent redistricting process, those who organized this lawsuit, and those who courageously stood up as plaintiffs. The people of Utah have come together to assert their right to reform their government. This unanimous Utah Supreme Court decision upholds the will of the people, and we…
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MWEG Response to Verdict in Trump Criminal Trial
This afternoon’s historic guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial came as a result of legal proceedings that allowed the evidence to be presented and cross-examined, the defense to make their case, and a carefully vetted citizen jury to deliberate. This judicial process also provides access to a clear system of appeals, available to defendants with legitimate concerns about process or results. These proceedings reflect our country’s long-held norms of a judicial system that is fair, balanced, and impartial. Citizens should scrutinize any attempts to undermine the decision beyond those time-tested mechanisms, especially by current and former elected officials in pursuit of apparent party or personal gain. Such…
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A Brief Exploration of Potential Campaign Finance Reforms
We have recently explored several of the core issues surrounding campaign finance that undermine accountability and transparency in our elections. After learning about (i) the disproportionate impact of very wealthy Americans on policy outcomes, (ii) the Citizens United case and consequent rise of super PACs and dark money, and (iii) the challenges with regulating online political ads, it is easy to be disheartened and feel pessimistic about the possibility of change. But the truth is, many Americans of diverse political ideologies support campaign finance reforms. If we work together, small acts of advocacy could go a long way in encouraging elected officials to make change happen. In this final piece, we’ll…
