Ballots & Brews

Democracy is meant to include everyone, but currently only a small portion of New Hampshire residents get involved in the political process beyond voting in major elections - or even know how to start. We want to work together to fix that.

Join us for our Ballots and Brews event on Wednesday, May 1st, at the Barcode Lounge & Grill in Manchester for an approachable introduction to the New Hampshire legislative process. In this relaxed atmosphere we will be discussing why voters' rights and civic engagement matter, the importance of campaign finance reform for passing policies that cater to the needs of the people, and the many different ways you can get involved.

Speaker Bios:

Ophelia Burnett, Program Associate with American Friends Service Committee and DemocracyOrganizer with Open Democracy. Ophelia is a passionate advocate for equality, justice, and the rights of marginalized communities. She has a deep belief in the inherent value and dignity of every individual and has dedicated herself to creating a more inclusive and equitable society. By collaborating with organizations, activists, elected officials, and community leaders. She has been able to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals and effect positive change.

Kathryn Langille, Open Democracy's Public Policy Fellow, Kathryn is passionate about serving her community and creating positivechange. Slated to graduate from Saint Anselm College in the Winter of 2025, she is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with minors in Education and Public Policy Studies. She intends to pursue a career in policy writing and analysis, with a focus on public education systems. Kathryn's deep sense of community stems from her experience in performing arts during her formative years. At Saint Anselm, she has had the privilege of being on her theater company's Executive Board as Director of Sets. She also works for a variety of on-campus offices, including the Meelia Center for Community Engagement and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

David Andrews is a UNH-trained electrical engineer living in Concord with a passion for data analysis. During the 2020 redistrictingcycle he worked as a Data Analyst at the Redistricting Data Hub, a national nonprofit assisting governments & organizations with redistricting data. He was the lead mapper for the Map-a-Thon project which created and introduced fair maps during the 2020 redistricting process in New Hampshire. David is also an expert witness in the City of Dover v. Scanlan case which is challenging the NH House map, which is currently in the Strafford Superior court.

Host or Publisher Coalition for Open Democracy