Today, there’s very little on which people agree. Pessimism over polarization has left many Americans believing there’s not much that can be done to bring the country back together. In short, our political system is broken.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that nearly everyone—regardless of political beliefs—agrees on that point.
Though it often doesn’t feel like it, many issues are supported across the political spectrum. A recent YouGov survey found more than 100 policies with bipartisan backing. My goal in this column is to explore reforms that can restore trust in our system—beginning with how we vote, who represents us, how money shapes politics and how we ensure every vote counts.
Make Voting Easier
Before fixing the system, we must make it easier for people to participate. Despite historically high turnout in the 2020 and 2024 elections (66% and 64%, respectively), nearly 90 million eligible voters still stayed home. The most common reason among those aged 18–44 was being “too busy” or having a “conflicting schedule.” Making voting more convenient could bring roughly 15 million additional voters to the polls.
There are two simple ways to do this. The first is to make Election Day a national holiday—an idea supported by roughly three-quarters of both Republicans and Democrats. But closing businesses can hurt hourly workers, and shutting schools creates childcare issues. A better approach is to allow in-person voting over a two-week period, including weekends. This plan, backed by 71% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats, avoids wage loss, improves access and increases turnout. The only challenges are cost and logistics—minor prices to pay for strengthening democracy.
Mississippi remains one of only three states without any form of early in-person voting. Expanding access would show citizens that their government values their participation. These reforms won’t solve every political problem, but they’re the first step in the long journey toward rebuilding faith in our democracy.
Improve Candidate Quality
The second major issue is the widespread dislike of politicians themselves. Three-quarters of both Republican and Democratic voters say Congress does a poor job of listening to constituents, separating personal from political interests, working with the other party, or taking responsibility for mistakes. Voters increasingly believe politicians are in it for money, fame, or power rather than public service.
While we can’t force good people to run for office, we can make it easier for them to do so. Many Americans favor age limits (82% of Republicans, 76% of Democrats), but that solution borders on age discrimination. The better reform is term limits—supported by 90% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats. Limiting the number of terms would open the door to fresh candidates, reduce the average age of representatives and curb the accumulation of power.
Critics argue term limits would erode institutional knowledge, but given Congress’s 20% approval rating, it’s hard to claim the current system works. Implementing term limits would require a constitutional amendment, yet 12 states—including Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee—have already passed resolutions calling for one. If 34 states join, a constitutional convention can be convened. If politicians refuse to reform themselves, citizens must act.
Reduce the Power of Money in Politics
Another critical step is campaign finance reform. Reducing the influence of wealth would level the playing field, make it easier for ordinary citizens to run for office and lessen the hold of special interests. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act once sought to curb these problems, but the Supreme Court later struck down its key provisions, opening the floodgates to unlimited spending.
That doesn’t mean reform is impossible—it means we need a constitutional amendment to regulate campaign spending. Such proposals have appeared in nearly every session of Congress but have never advanced. Meanwhile, an overwhelming majority of Americans across party lines agree that campaign costs are too high, special interests have too much power, and meaningful change is both necessary and possible.
Twenty-two states have already passed resolutions supporting a constitutional amendment; if twelve more join, the issue can be brought before a convention. Until we control the influence of money, our government will remain “of the few, by the few, for the few,” rather than “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
End Winner-Takes-All Politics
In the 20th century, trench warfare was fought on battlefields. In the 21st, it’s fought in politics. Democrats and Republicans have dug into opposite ideological trenches, leaving a no-man’s-land between them. Voters are exhausted by the constant fighting: majorities of both parties want compromise, but they believe their leaders are more focused on defeating the other side. The result is frustration and declining faith in democracy—today, fewer than 30% of Americans in either party trust the federal government.
The underlying problem is structural. Our “first-past-the-post” voting system forces a two-party monopoly, rewarding polarization and leaving millions of votes effectively wasted. A better alternative is proportional representation, where representation depends on the percentage of votes received, not on who wins the most districts.
Imagine a district electing five representatives. If Republicans earn 41% of votes, Democrats 39%, and Independents 20%, the current system awards all five seats to Republicans. Under PR, that same vote would yield two Republicans, two Democrats and one Independent—a fairer reflection of voter preferences. PR would also make gerrymandering irrelevant since representation would depend on vote share, not district boundaries.
Over 80 countries already use proportional representation, many ranking among the world’s most stable democracies. If the U.S. combined PR with reforms to voting access, term limits, and campaign finance, we could restore competition, choice, and faith in government.
How to Make It Happen
There is widespread agreement that our political system is broken—but also widespread agreement on how to fix it. Making voting easier, instituting term limits, curbing the influence of money, and adopting proportional representation would all move us toward a healthier democracy. The question is: how do we bring about change?
First, Mississippians must restore the ballot initiative process. For three consecutive years, legislators have failed to agree on a bill to return citizens’ right to amend the state constitution. A legislator’s job is to find consensus and pass laws. If they can’t do that, it’s time for new representation. If your legislator does not vote to restore the ballot initiative this session, don’t vote to re-elect them. Period.
Second, contact your representatives. Visit pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator or download the
5 Calls app to identify and call to explain which reforms you support. Politicians respond to pressure, and they can’t ignore a wave of informed, vocal constituents.
Third, vote—but not as you always have. If the candidate from your preferred party refuses to support reform, vote for an Independent or even the opposing party. It’s the only way to show that voters are serious about fixing the system.
Fourth, stay informed. You don’t need to track every bill but keep up with the issues that matter most. Ask local newspapers to provide updates on legislation concerning voting, campaign finance or government transparency (or try a website like www.billtrack50.com).
Meaningful reform won’t happen overnight. It took decades for our political system to reach this point, and progress will take time. But there is far more that unites us than divides us. The “other side” isn’t the enemy—they’re frustrated, too. We’re all trying to make the best of a system that feels broken. The challenge before us is to rebuild it—together.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Making it easier to vote, harder to buy influence and impossible to ignore the will of the people is a good place to start.
This MFP Voices opinion essay reflects the personal opinion of its author(s). The column does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. To submit an opinion for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and sources fact-checking the included information to voices@mississippifreepress.org. We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints.