The NewDEAL Forum is a policy-based organization that promotes, “pro-growth progressive policies.” 1 It is the sister, “policy-focused arm,” 2 of NewDEAL, a coalition of elected officials that consider themselves, “pro-growth progressives.” 3
In February 2023, the NewDEAL Forum released a report titled the “Democracy Playbook” that listed the group’s recommendations on how states should manage future democratic elections. Such recommendations include upgrading the websites of local election officials and expanding the use and access to mail-in voting. NewDEAL and New DEAL Forum CEO Debbie Cox Bultan commented, “It is not meant to be a one-size-fits-all report, that we want everybody to be doing exactly this…but the key thing is we just want everyone to be taking steps to expand access to the ballot, to increase transparency.” 2 The report further recommends that states should switch out current election machines for those that provide, “a paper trail for voting,” 4 actively communicate with media outlets, and partner with, “third-party observers.” 4 The report defends these strategies by stating, “Election officials should view third-party observers as partners, not opponents. Observers operating in good faith have the same objectives as officials: To ensure a fair, safe election.” 4
