About Us

The Coalition for Open Democracy (COD) is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to ensuring integrity, transparency and efficiency in political and legislative processes in New Hampshire and the nation. We work to improve public policy and practices by gathering and disseminating information and engaging people in action. Our focus in 2009 is to educate the public and policymakers about Citizen Funded Elections for New Hampshire.

COD has members and activists across the political spectrum and throughout the state. Member organizations include League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, and PACE: Public Action for Clean Elections.

The influence of special interests has stalled many efforts to reform health care, education, environmental and other policy. By taking special interest money out of politics, publicly funded elections helps make all other reforms possible. Please contact us if your organization would like to join our coalition.

COD works with regional and national organizations that are building support for state and federal citizen funded elections, including Northeast Action, National Voting Rights Institute, Public Campaign and Common Cause.

Formed in late 2007 and originally named the New Hampshire Coalition for Public Funding of Elections (NHCPFE), our contributions to advancing citizen funded elections in New Hampshire include:

• Engaging citizens in the push for reform that established the bi-partisan 2008 NH Public Elections Financing Commission and ensuring that strong public-financing advocates were appointed to the commission.
• Providing the commission with research, policy analysis and recommendations.
• Assisting NH commissioners and policymakers in connecting with national policy experts for advice and counsel.
• Successful passage of the Citizen Funded Elections Act of 2009 to establish the Citizen Funded Task Force. For more a copy of the act and more information about it, click here.