Michael Feinstein for Secretary of State Candidate Statement in the California Voter Information Guide – 2026
California is a beautiful, richly diverse blend of people, ideas and perspectives. We’re best when all are heard and represented. Everyone deserves a seat at the table of our democracy.
A vote for former Santa Monica mayor Michael Feinstein is a vote for a Democracy Bill of Rights:
(1) Ranked Choice Voting. Empower voters with more voice over more candidates, positive campaigning, and coalition-building.
(2) Multi-Party Democracy. Instead of our existing ‘lesser-of-evils’, winner-take-all system — enact proportional representation elections — where like-minded voters receive representation in proportion to their numbers, and all voters can help elect candidates who truly represent their views. Multiple perspectives win representation from the same district. We gain from the wisdom of our diversity.
(3) Campaign Finance Reform. Stop the corrupting influence of Big Money, ensure full disclosure. Reduce the cost of running for office, and ensure all voters have information needed to make informed decisions. Provide free candidate statements in official voter guides, and use our public airwaves to inform voters about all electoral choices. Provide candidates with a broad, grassroots base of clean money support. Match small donor contributions with public funds. Empower residents with democracy vouchers to fund candidates. Our democracy is worth it.
(4) Election Integrity. All votes must be counted—and all votes must count. Promote transparency, accuracy and trustworthiness with publicly-owned, open-source voting equipment, paper ballots, and meaningful audits.
(5) Ensure Voting Rights for all. Universal voter registration. Expand language access. Make it easier to vote by declaring election days state holidays.