Now more than ever, it seems, it’s hard to have a conversation about politics and current events.

People disagree all the time, of course. But not all disagreements lead to the same levels of stress as a conversation related to politics. So we tend to shy away from having these difficult conversations. We don’t want to argue. We’d rather avoid conflict.

It hasn’t always been this way. In recent years, there been a sharp spike in the contempt that partisans express for their opponents, according to Pew Research Center polling. More than 4 in 10 Democrats and Republicans say the other party’s policies are so misguided that they pose a threat to the nation. So the disagreements simmer. Nothing gets done. 

That’s unfortunate. And it’s not going to get any better unless we’re all willing to work together with people with whom we have differences.

That’s the way the ACLU of North Dakota has always approached its work.

Whether it’s defending the Standing Rock water protectors’ right to free speech and right to protest, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ community in North Dakota, preserving the rights of immigrants in our state, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.

That’s why we recently added our name to the list of organizations opposed to Measure 1, the ethics commission, foreign political contribution ban, and conflicts of interest initiative that will be on the ballot in November. While North Dakotans have a right to know who is spending money to influence elections and government, the ACLU opposes this measure because it is poorly written and has the potential to violate our First Amendment rights.

The ACLU doesn’t take our First Amendment rights lightly. The fight for freedom of speech, in fact, has been a bedrock of the ACLU’s mission since the organization was founded in 1920, driven by the need to protect the constitutional rights of conscientious objectors and anti-war protesters.

The ACLU’s opposition to Measure 1 surprised a lot of people, and we’ve gotten some backlash from those who disagree with our position. But the ACLU has never shied away from a fight when civil liberties are at stake. Our constitutional rights are too important.

The ACLU is a nonpartisan organization, and we welcome the opportunity to work with many different organizations.  We’ve had allies from all political stripes and all political parties – and opponents, too. The proverbial saying, “politics makes strange bedfellows” often comes to mind with our work. But reaching across to both sides of the aisle, so to speak, is how change happens – whether we’re talking about Measure 1 today or a completely different issue tomorrow. In order to drive concrete policy outcomes that matter for people’s lives and to protect the constitutional rights of all North Dakotans, it’s what we have to do.

The stakes are incredibly high for civil rights and civil liberties issues in North Dakota. But if we can work together – beyond one person, party or side – we have the opportunity to create a more perfect union.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota is adding its name to the list of organizations opposed to Measure 1, the ethics commission, foreign political contribution ban, and conflicts of interest initiative that will be on the ballot in November.

Though it’s being promoted as an “anti-corruption amendment,” Measure 1 is actually so poorly written that it would institute a host of new restrictions and regulations on political speech and advocacy that would violate the First Amendment rights of all citizens.

“While North Dakotans have a right to know who is spending money to influence elections and government, this measure isn’t just about lobbyists and lawmakers,” said Heather Smith, executive director of the ACLU of North Dakota. “It’s about all the people of North Dakota and our First Amendment rights. When it comes to the political process, we all have a right to be heard, and this measure jeopardizes that."

Section 1 of the measure is particularly concerning. It directs the legislature to institute laws requiring the “disclosure of the ultimate and true source of funds spent in any medium, in an amount greater than two hundred dollars, adjusted for inflation, to influence any statewide election, election for the legislative assembly, statewide ballot-issue election, or to lobby or otherwise influence state government action.”

There is no exception to this reporting requirement for individuals spending their own money to express their personal point of view on a given campaign or piece of public policy. That leaves a constitutional mandate so broad that if a private citizen wants to travel to Bismarck to testify on a bill, they’d have to disclose any money spent on fuel, meals and lodging over $200. There’s also no exemption for the media. Talk radio hosts, newspaper columnists or bloggers who influence politics and policy with their reporting and analysis would likely be subject to these regulations, too.

“As citizens, we have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch how our political leaders and representatives use their powers and to express our own opinions and interests. Measure 1 has the potential to limit this,” Smith says. “We must be free express our views and preferences and work to see that government responds to citizen views, thus holding those in government accountable,” Smith said. “Our First Amendment Rights are too important to let this constitutional mandate pass.”

About the ACLU of North Dakota

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota is a non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection, and privacy are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBT communities. The ACLU of North Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for people of North Dakota.