An Informed and Engaged Public

California's mechanisms for understanding and responding to public concerns and priorities have not kept pace with the physical growth of communities and regions and the complexity of social and economic issues. 

1. Californians do not have adequate, convenient and modern ways to influence policy decisions, and often lack information on how government functions and the opportunities for public input.
2. Policy-makers - and elected officials, in particular - have not adequately incorporated best practices and new technologies that can help them understand public priorities, values, preferences and expectations.
3. Public agencies have not adequately deployed practices and technologies to understand public expectations and experiences with public programs, or to communicate the impact of programs to the public.

California Forward will champion reforms that enable and encourage Californians to be informed and effective participants in discussions about revenue, budget, and other major policy choices, as well as the breadth and quality of public services. 

In the future, we will be exploring a number of potential governance issues, including some of the ideas that previous reform efforts have considered.  Among them:

Election-related information that is easier for voters to access and understand, encouraging Californians to be informed and confident voters.

Voter registration and process reforms that encourage participation while maintaining the integrity of the elections system.

New public involvement tools that give Californians a greater understanding of their government, and in turn more opportunities to influence policy decisions and provide feedback to public programs - enhancing responsiveness, accountability and trust.