About

What is Americans Elect?

Americans Elect is the first nonpartisan nomination. We're using the Internet to break the gridlock in Washington, open up the political process and give every single voter—Democrat, Republican or independent—the power to nominate a presidential ticket in 2012. Your voice matters. You decide the issues. You choose the candidates. And in a secure, online convention next June, you will make history by putting the Americans Elect ticket on the ballot in every state.

With Americans Elect, you have the power to choose leadership that puts country before party, and America's interests before special interests. You have the power to change politics as usual.

Is Americans Elect a 3^rd party?

Americans Elect is a "2^nd way" to nominate a President, not a traditional 3rd party. Our process is open to any qualified candidate and any registered voter—no matter their party. We have no ties to any political group—left, right, or center. We don't promote any issues, ideology or candidates. None of our funding comes from special interests or lobbyists. Our only goal is to put a directly-nominated ticket on the ballot in 2012.

Is Americans Elect secure?

Yes. We're building a 21st-century nominating system with state-of-the-art security at every step. Every voter's registration status will be verified. Every vote will be counted fairly and accurately, and will generate a printable confirmation. And an independent, publicly-identified panel of election experts will monitor the process and report publicly on its transparency and security.

Is this for real?

Very. Americans Elect is not another advocacy group or online competition. We are well on the way to securing national ballot access. We are building a state-of-the-art, secure voting process. We will attract millions of registered voters. We will attract serious, qualified presidential candidates. And in 2012, American voters will change politics as usual and put their ticket on the ballot in every state.

Why are you doing this?

The goal of Americans Elect is to nominate a presidential ticket that answers to voters—not the political system. It's time to change politics as usual and take control of government back from the special interests. Like millions of American voters, we simply want leadership that will work together to develop fresh ideas and real solutions that tackle the serious challenges facing our country. We believe government can be made more responsive and effective. And we believe a secure, online direct nominating process will prove that America is ready for a competitive, nonpartisan ticket.

How can I participate?

Any registered voter can become an Americans Elect delegate—and you can still vote in your party's primary. Just sign up and you'll be able to shape the issues, choose the candidates—and ultimately vote in our convention. In addition to voting, your individual contributions help us build a truly inclusive, 21st-century nominating process. Your voice, your choice, your president.

How does Americans Elect work?

Americans Elect follows a simple, secure, step-by-step process that culminates in the first-ever online convention:
• Define the crucial issues facing our nation
• Shape the debate—develop the questions all candidates must answer
• Choose the candidates—find and draft candidates who put forward solutions you believe in
• Cast your vote—nominate the president and VP directly

And the winner will be on the 2012 ballot in every state.

Who is behind Americans Elect?

Americans Elect is a neutral, nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with any political party, ideology or candidate. It was founded by pioneers in direct technology and citizens from across the political spectrum who are worried that political divisions are keeping our nation's big problems from being solved. Americans elect is funded by individual contributions, and intends to pay back the bulk of our initial financing as more delegates join, so that no single individual will have contributed more than $10K. Ultimately, Americans Elect candidates will answer only to American voters. Americans Elect believes that we can rebuild hope and trust for a better future for all of us, and opening up the system to new ideas and real solutions will put our country back on track.

Who will be the candidates?

Americans Elect is an open nominating process. Any constitutionally-eligible, qualified citizen—no matter their party—can seek the nomination, or be drafted by Americans Elect delegates. We will never promote any candidate of our own—and the winning ticket is chosen directly by American voters through a secure, online process. To ensure the integrity of the process, candidates will be verified and certified by an independent, nonpartisan committee and meet a set of standard qualification criteria such as background checks.

How is this different than a traditional ticket?

American voters are tired of politics as usual and tired of government failing to solve our problems. They want leadership that will work together to develop fresh ideas and real solutions that will tackle the serious challenges facing our country. Americans Elect is open to candidates from any party—and when they choose their running mates, they'll be required to choose one from a party other than their own. This will help produce candidates that don't just say they'll work with the other side, but ones who already are. This election, you have the power to help break the gridlock in Washington and make government more responsive to the people.

Is Americans Elect just choosing an "Internet President"?

No. We're using the Internet to give all voters an equal voice through a secure, online convention, but the winning ticket will really be on the 2012 ballot. The Internet is simply the technology that makes Americans Elect possible. For the first time, America will nominate a president directly. Your voice, your choice, your president.

Why do we need another candidate?

The party primaries offer few choices, and leave too many Americans out of the process. In many states, voters have no real say at all about who gets nominated. Americans Elect is an alternative to the dysfunctional party process, and gives all voters a greater voice, a greater choice and an equal vote, no matter their party or where they live. And by nominating a nonpartisan ticket through a secure, online convention, Americans Elect will create a path for our leaders to start working together constructively to develop fresh ideas and real solutions that address the serious challenges facing our country. It's time to change politics as usual.

Won't this just spoil the election for one of the parties?

Can a presidential ticket chosen directly and securely by millions of voters really be a spoiler? Some people will think Americans Elect will cost the Democrats the election. Others will think the same about the Republicans. In reality, Americans Elect will open up the political process and allow voters to send a more important message: the status quo in Washington is not acceptable, and Americans want leaders who are committed to working together constructively to address our nation's serious challenges, regardless of their party.

What if an extremist or unqualified candidate wins?

Americans Elect candidates will be certified by an independent committee and must meet a set of standard qualification criteria such as background checks. But more importantly, the Americans Elect ticket will be chosen by millions of registered voters—Democrat, Republican and independent. We believe that when Americans participate directly in the nominating process, we will have a positive debate that leads to a qualified, representative choice.

Can Americans Elect really succeed?

The American party system could benefit from greater openness, some healthy competition, and new and fresh ideas. Americans Elect will succeed by putting a nonpartisan ticket on the 2012 ballot in every state—the first ever that's chosen directly by voters. And by empowering the American people, Americans Elect will demonstrate that an open, secure online nominating process can give all Americans a choice that answers directly to them.

What happens after 2012?

The primary focus of Americans Elect is to put a direct, securely-nominated ticket on the 2012 ballot. After this process, we will not campaign for the winner—what happens next is up to the delegates and leadership to decide. But we anticipate that our success in 2012 will spur further innovation at the local, state and national levels.