Ben Allen
\n Executive Director\,
Better Ballot Iowa
___________________ __
\n \nFriday\, July 17\, 2026 | 11:45 AM
– 1:00 PM
\n Plymouth Congregati
onal Church\, Waveland Hall
\n 41
26 Ingersoll Ave\, Des Moines
\n
** in-person event **
Better Ballot Iowa is a new kind of political movement bringing together voters across the political spectrum — Republicans\, Democrats\, Independents \, 3rd Party — around systemic impro vements to the way we conduct elections in order t o make our political life more positive\, construc tive\, and productive. The Iowan-founded\, Iowan-l ed grassroots non-profit organization advocates fo r transformative shifts in our elections with two simple changes: the use of single open top-5 prima ries and Ranked Choice Voting in the general elect ion.
\n \nHow does that work? And how do we get there? Join Ben Allen\, Executi ve Director of Better Ballot Iowa\, at the July Cr ossroads to learn more about Iowa's voting systems and what we can do to make politics in America wo rk for more Americans.
\n \nYou may m ake your reservation to attend in-person (with lun ch) by clicking on the "Register Now" button. Four bag lunch sandwich op tions are available: turkey\, roast beef\, ham sal ad\, and vegetarian\; brown bag lunches are $15 ea ch. Please note: You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Wednesday\, July 15. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will not be available.
\n \nIf you have any issues registering\, please email info@interfa ithallianceiowa.org or call 515.279.8715.
\n \nABOUT OUR PRESENTER | Ben Allen< /strong> is Executive Director of Better Ballot Io wa. His professional background is rooted in the p ublishing industry as a project manager and depart mental lead\, creating photo-heavy informational a nd instructional books within the home improvement \, home design\, decorating\, and gardening subjec t areas. Ben's stint at Meredith Corporation saw h im help create more than 100 books for the Better Homes and Gardens\, Ortho\, The Home Depot\, Stanl ey\, Miracle-Gro\, and Scotts brands\, among other s.
\n \nBen has long served w ith non-profit organizations to help improve the c ommunity in which he lives with terms on the board s of the ACLU of Iowa\, Metro Arts Alliance\, and Master Gardeners of Polk County. He also voluntee rs with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.
\n \nWith a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas (go Jayh awks!)\, an MBA from Iowa State University (go Cyc lones!)\, and part of his childhood spent in Colum bia\, Missouri (go Tigers!)\, Ben is often confuse d on who to root for at sporting events. He lives in Des Moines with his wife\, Marguerite “Peggy” F itch\, and two spoiled cats named Chester and Lily .
\n \nCrossroads is a monthly gathe ring of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Des Moi nes.
DESCRIPTION:\n \n \n \n Can Iowa improve its voting?\n \n \n B en Allen\n \n Executive Director\, Better Ballot I owa\n \n \n \n _____________________\n \n \n \n Fr iday\, July 17\, 2026 | 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM\n \n Plymouth Congregational Church\, Waveland Hall\n \ n 4126 Ingersoll Ave\, Des Moines\n \n ** in-perso n event **\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Better Ballot Iowa is a new kind of political movement bringing together voters across the political spectrum — R epublicans\, Democrats\, Independents\, 3rd Party — around systemic improvements to the way we condu ct elections in order to make our political life m ore positive\, constructive\, and productive. The Iowan-founded\, Iowan-led grassroots non-profit or ganization advocates for transformative shifts in our elections with two simple changes: the use of single open top-5 primaries and Ranked Choice Voti ng in the general election.\n \n \n \n How does th at work? And how do we get there? Join Ben Allen\, Executive Director of Better Ballot Iowa\, at the July Crossroads to learn more about Iowa's voting systems and what we can do to make politics in Am erica work for more Americans.\n \n \n \n \n You m ay make your reservation to attend in-person (with lunch) by clicking on the "Register Now" button. Four bag lunch sandwich options are available: tur key\, roast beef\, ham salad\, and vegetarian\; br own bag lunches are $15 each. Please note: You mus t pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Wednesday\, July 15. Late orders or walk-in reques ts for lunch will not be available.\n \n \n \n If you have any issues registering\, please email inf o@interfaithallianceiowa.org (mailto:info@interfai thallianceiowa.org) or call 515.279.8715 (tel:5152 798715).\n \n \n \n \n ABOUT OUR PRESENTER | Ben A llen is Executive Director of Better Ballot Iowa. His professional background is rooted in the publi shing industry as a project manager and department al lead\, creating photo-heavy informational and i nstructional books within the home improvement\, h ome design\, decorating\, and gardening subject ar eas. Ben's stint at Meredith Corporation saw him h elp create more than 100 books for the Better Home s and Gardens\, Ortho\, The Home Depot\, Stanley\, Miracle-Gro\, and Scotts brands\, among others.\n \n \n \n Ben has long served with non-profit orga nizations to help improve the community in which h e lives with terms on the boards of the ACLU of Io wa\, Metro Arts Alliance\, and Master Gardeners o f Polk County. He also volunteers with Iowa Citize ns for Community Improvement.\n \n \n \n With a Ma ster's degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!)\, an MBA from Iowa State Un iversity (go Cyclones!)\, and part of his childhoo d spent in Columbia\, Missouri (go Tigers!)\, Ben is often confused on who to root for at sporting e vents. He lives in Des Moines with his wife\, Marg uerite “Peggy” Fitch\, and two spoiled cats named Chester and Lily.\n \n \n \n Crossroads is a month ly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Des Moines.\n \n CATEGORIES:Event c3 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T114500 DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T130000 URL:https://interfaithallianceiowa.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=298 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR