Ben Allen
\n Executive Director\,
Better Ballot Iowa
___________________ __
\n \nFriday\, July 17\, 2026 | 12:00 –
1:00 PM
\n ** online event **
Bet ter Ballot Iowa is a new kind of political movemen t bringing together voters across the political sp ectrum — Republicans\, Democrats\, Independents\, 3rd Party — around systemic improvements to the way we conduct elect ions in order to make our political life more posi tive\, constructive\, and productive. The Iowan-fo unded\, Iowan-led grassroots non-profit organizati on advocates for transformative shifts in our elec tions with two simple changes: the use of single o pen top-5 primaries and Ranked Choice Voting in th e general election.
\n \nHo w does that work? And how do we get there? Join Be n 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 polit ics in America work for more Americans.
\n \nYou may make your reservation to attend vi rtually by clicking on the "Register Now" button.< /span> Th is online presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
\n \nIf y ou have any issues registering\, please email info@ interfaithallianceiowa.org or call 515.279.8715.
\n \nABOUT OUR PRESENTER | B en Allen is Executive Director of Better Ballot Iowa. His professional background is rooted in the publishing industry as a project manager a nd departmental lead\, creating photo-heavy inform ational and instructional books within the home im provement\, home design\, decorating\, and gardeni ng subject areas. Ben's stint at Meredith Corporat ion saw him help create more than 100 books for th e Better Homes and Gardens\, Ortho\, The Home Depo t\, Stanley\, Miracle-Gro\, and Scotts brands\, am ong others.
\n \nBen has lo ng served with non-profit organizations to help im prove the community in which he lives with terms o n the boards of the ACLU of Iowa\, Metro Arts All iance\, and Master Gardeners of Polk County. He al so volunteers with Iowa Citizens for Community Imp rovement.
\n \nWith a Maste r's degree in Journalism from the University of Ka nsas (go Jayhawks!)\, an MBA from Iowa State Unive rsity (go Cyclones!)\, and part of his childhood s pent in Columbia\, Missouri (go Tigers!)\, Ben is often confused on who to root for at sporting even ts. He lives in Des Moines with his wife\, Marguer ite “Peggy” Fitch\, and two spoiled cats named Che ster and Lily.
\n \nCrossroads is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Io wa in Des Moines.
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 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM\n \n ** online event **\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Better B allot Iowa is a new kind of political movement bri nging together voters across the political spectru m — Republicans\, Democrats\, Independents\, 3rd P arty — around systemic improvements to the way we conduct elections in order to make our political l ife more positive\, constructive\, and productive. The Iowan-founded\, Iowan-led grassroots non-prof it organization advocates for transformative shift s in our elections with two simple changes: the us e of single open top-5 primaries and Ranked Choice Voting in the general election.\n \n \n \n How do es that work? And how do we get there? Join Ben Al len\, Executive Director of Better Ballot Iowa\, a t the July Crossroads to learn more about Iowa's v oting systems and what we can do to make politics in America work for more Americans.\n \n \n \n \n You may make your reservation to attend virtually by clicking on the "Register Now" button. This onl ine presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTu be channel.\n \n \n \n If you have any issues regi stering\, please email info@interfaithallianceiowa .org (mailto:info@interfaithallianceiowa.org) or c all 515.279.8715 (tel:5152798715).\n \n \n \n \n A BOUT OUR PRESENTER | Ben Allen is Executive Direct or of Better Ballot Iowa. His professional backgro und is rooted in the publishing industry as a proj ect manager and departmental lead\, creating photo -heavy informational and instructional books withi n the home improvement\, home design\, decorating\ , and gardening subject areas. Ben's stint at Mere dith Corporation saw him help create more than 100 books for the Better Homes and Gardens\, Ortho\, The Home Depot\, Stanley\, Miracle-Gro\, and Scott s brands\, among others.\n \n \n \n Ben has long s erved with non-profit organizations to help improv e the community in which he lives with terms on th e boards of the ACLU of Iowa\, Metro Arts Allianc e\, and Master Gardeners of Polk County. He also v olunteers with Iowa Citizens for Community Improve ment.\n \n \n \n With a Master's degree in Journal ism from the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!)\, an MBA from Iowa State University (go Cyclones!)\ , and part of his childhood spent in Columbia\, Mi ssouri (go Tigers!)\, Ben is often confused on who to root for at sporting events. He lives in Des M oines with his wife\, Marguerite “Peggy” Fitch\, a nd two spoiled cats named Chester and Lily.\n \n \ n \n Crossroads is a monthly gathering of the Inte rfaith Alliance of Iowa in Des Moines.\n \n CATEGORIES:Event c3 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T120000 DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T130000 URL:https://interfaithallianceiowa.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=300 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR