Encourage more states to follow CO/NM by enacting their own reforms allowing civil suits against officers.
Expand accountability by creating state-law paths for people to sue when rights are violated, using the state models already described in this cause. When legislatures won’t act, take the question directly to voters with a ballot-measure plan that covers qualification, persuasion, and post-election follow-through. This approach builds proof points while federal reform remains stalled.
Why this works
- Achievable at state level with the right coalition, immediately helps victims in those states; creates laboratories of democracy to prove opponents’ fears wrong.
American Civil Liberties Union
AdvocacyDefending civil liberties and individual rights in the United States
Mechanism
About Ballot MeasuresHow American Civil Liberties Union uses funding
- Select target states and decide whether the path is legislative, ballot, or both.
- Draft and file the language under state rules, including required title/summary and compliance steps.
- Build a qualification operation: signature plan, training, and verification strategy.
- Collect and submit signatures with cushion, and respond to procedural challenges.
- Run a voter campaign through Election Day with clear accountability framing.
- Support implementation and defend against post-election challenges after a win.
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Target states + route selected
0–30 daysThe campaign selects target states and the legislative versus ballot route.
- 2
Measure drafted + filed
1–3 monthsLanguage is finalized, filed, and cleared through required process steps.
- 3
Qualification achieved
3–9 monthsSignature collection and verification succeed and the measure qualifies.
- 4
Election win + follow-through
Through Election Day + afterThe reform passes and implementation/defense work is underway.