voting rights

I can fogive Wal-Mart for giving all their money to the GOP. The GOP is the party of the elite, the party of multi-national corporations like Wal-Mart. While prioritizing their own profit over of the needs of American families is unpatriotic, it's at least within the rights of global corporation operating within the United States.

What I don't understand is why American workers are subjected to constant and forced indoctrination as a condition of their employment. Wal-mart's political reeducation program is worthy of Stalin and Mao. It denies Wal-mart workers freedom of speech, in order to further deprive them of the right to association.

Cross-posted at Project Vote's blog, Voting Matters

Weekly Voting Rights News Update

By Erin Ferns

Reports and exits polls this entire political season have built a narrative of tremendous, even record-breaking voter participation, pushing us to believe that voter turnout in November will exceed all expectations.

Maybe.

GOP will demand 'oath' of February primary voters

If you're planning to vote in Virginia's February Republican presidential primary, be prepared to sign an oath swearing your Republican loyalty.

The State Board of Elections on Monday approved a state Republican Party request to require all who apply for a GOP primary ballot first vow in writing that they'll vote for the party's presidential nominee next fall.

There's no practical way to enforce the oath. Virginia doesn't require voters to register by party, and for years the state's Republicans have fretted that Democrats might meddle in their open primaries.

Virginia Democrats aren't seeking such an oath for their presidential primary, which is held the same day -- February 12th.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=7411021&nav=S6aK

NCDP Chair Jerry Meek announced today that state Democrats would participate in an unprecedented 50-state election protection program to prepare for the 2008 election.

North Carolina will participate in an in-depth nationwide survey to collect critical data on the often confusing and complex sets of administrative practices and decisions governing our nation’s elections. We will work with election officials throughout the state to help identify potential issues so they can be resolved well in advance of the 2008 election.

More specifically, we will work with local election officials to answer critical questions about voter registration, centralized voter databases, voting systems and absentee voting, provisional balloting, polling place procedures and Election Day preparation.

Data collected from the survey will be analyzed to determine the needs of each election locality and the next steps for strengthening the election process in that locality.

“North Carolina Democrats will not rest until every single eligible North Carolinian can register to vote, cast their ballot without fear of intimidation or harassment, and have confidence that their vote will be counted fairly and accurately,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek.

“Our commitment stands in stark contrast to what we’ve seen from Republicans both here in North Carolina and across the country,” Meek said. “From false reports of voter fraud and restrictive voter ID proposals to voter purging and voter intimidation tactics, Republicans want to place a variety of roadblocks that keep countless Americans from exercising their right to vote."

Last week, the Senate Rules Committee heard testimony on the Ballot Integrity Act of 2007 (S. 1487). Senators Diane Feinstein and Christopher Dodd are the bill’s chief sponsors, but Senators Biden, Boxer, Brown, Clinton, Inouye, Kennedy, Leahy, Menendez, Leahy, and Obama have also signed on. While much of the bill is taken up with voting equipment standards, a significant number of voting rights issues are also addressed. These include increased safeguards for voters from being purged, uniform requirements for training poll workers to a set of minimal standards, and equitable allocation of polling place resources. Most importantly, the bill prohibits states from restricting voter registration drives.

Voter registration drives by nongovernmental entities play a critical role in the health of our democracy. They have been effective vehicles through which eligible Americans from traditionally disenfranchised communities have become registered to vote. According to the US Census, 12 million Americans have registered to vote through a voter registration drive, accounting for 8.5 percent of all registered voters. Minority voters, in particular, rely on the voter registration drives. Fifteen percent of Blacks, 15.5 percent of Latinos and 12.5 percent of Asians registered to vote through a drive compared to 8.6 percent for White non-Hispanic voters. In fact, Blacks and Latinos are 65 percent more likely to have registered through a voter registration drive than Whites.

The YDs, of which I am member, have begun to focus on what needs to be changed and are beginning to change it. The latest victory is good for all Democrats, which is the Same Day Voter Registration bill. Now, all voters will get more opportunities to vote, and as many of us know, most later voters vote for Democrats.

Congratulations everyone. This a significant accomplishment that we can all be proud of.

NCDP Chair Jerry Meek and Young Democrats President Zack Hawkins applauded Democratic leaders today on the passage of same day voter registration. Gov. Mike Easley signed the bill into law on Friday.

The new law allows voters to register up to three days before Election Day, down from 25 days under the old law. The measure also provides several safeguards to ensure the integrity of voter registration and toughens criminal penalties for those who commit fraud.

Republican State Auditor Les Merritt attempted to stall passage of the bill by citing a flawed preliminary report that ultimately yielded no evidence of voter fraud.

The Kissell/Hayes contest for US Congress may end up in
a recount situation.

The New York Times says that if there is a recount, it would take place
November 20 or 21.

Volunteers to help out - anyone?

Here's the NY Times article:

"November 8, 2006 New York Times. Undecided Houses Races Roundup.

North Carolina’s 8th District: The final count of the extremely
close race in the south-central part of the state will determine
if Democrat Larry Kissell succeeded in his bid to defeat four-term
Republican Rep. Robin Hayes — which would be one of the year’s
biggest upsets — or fell just short. With all precincts reporting
in official returns, Hayes led Kissell by 456 votes out of more
than 120,000 counted, a margin of two-tenths of 1 percent...

Kissell, a social studies teacher, overcame huge disadvantages

If you are registered to vote,
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR POLLING PLACE WITHOUT VOTING!
Every registered voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot.

Check your North Carolina voter registration and polling place location here.

If you are in line before the poll's closing time, you are entitled to vote.
North Carolina polls are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7th.

You are entitled to view a sample ballot at the polling place before
voting.

If you have any problems, questions, or concerns, call the Democratic Party's Voting Rights Hotline at 1-888-DEM-VOTE (1-888-336-8683)