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Tyler Fisher
Sr. Director, Policy and Partnerships, Unite America
Tyler Fisher is the Senior Director of Policy and Partnerships at Unite America, a role he has held since January 2021. Located in Denver, Colorado, he is dedicated to enhancing political philanthropy and investing in reform campaigns that aim to create a more representative government. His responsibilities include grantmaking, coalition building, and overseeing a team focused on research and partnerships.1
Fisher began his career as a Business Transformation Consultant at IBM, where he gained experience managing projects and coordinating teams for Fortune 500 clients. He transitioned to Unite America as one of its earliest employees, initially serving as Deputy Director from June 2017 to December 2020. In this capacity, he supported independent candidates across the U.S. by providing essential resources like grassroots organizing and fundraising support.1
He is noted for his commitment to bridging partisan divides and fostering collaboration among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.1 Fisher's educational background includes a degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University, complemented by various roles in political consulting during his college years.1
Highlights
My Unite America colleague Carlo Macomber and I wrote an op-ed last week on the rise of independent voters, the Let America Vote Act, and how important political independents will be in determining the presidential election winner.
Some key points:
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51% of Americans now identify as political independents. For the first time ever, there are more Is than Ds and Rs.
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The Let America Vote Act was introduced on a bipartisan basis this month, which would guarantee the right of all voters, including independents, to vote in all taxpayer funded primary elections. This would immediately enfranchise 23.5M Americans currently unable to vote in 22 closed primary states.
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Independent voters are swing voters. They will determine who wins the presidency. One way for candidates and parties to earn their vote is to support their right to vote in primaries. 60% of Excluded Independents -- including those in Nevada, Arizona, and Pennsylvania -- said they would be more likely to vote for a party that pledged to support their right to vote in primaries.
Thanks to TheFulcrum.US, Stars and Stripes, The York Dispatch, The Sun Chronicle, and Bluefield Daily Telegraph for running our piece.
https://lnkd.in/gmRnAcQX
My Unite America colleague Carlo Macomber is out with a new explainer that describes why and how much nonpartisan primaries increase turnout.
The number one reason people don't vote is because they don't like their choices. Carlo identifies four reasons why nonpartisan primaries may increase turnout:
- First, all eligible voters can participate;
- Second, nonpartisan primaries offer voters increased flexibility;
- Third, better ideologically and demographically representative candidates to run;
- Fourth, more candidates tend to run in nonpartisan primaries.
What's the evidence:
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States that adopt nonpartisan primaries see a 6.1-percentage point increase in primary election turnout;
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In 2022, primary turnout nationally was just 21%. But turnout in the three states with nonpartisan primaries — Alaska (37%), Washington (35%) and California (29%)
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The increase in participation is larger among some communities of color, thus decreasing the turnout gap between white voters and voters of color.
#VotersFirst
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