Overhaul Plan for Vote System Will Be Delayed

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are slowing their drive to revamp the nation’s voting systems, aides said yesterday.

Under pressure from state and local officials, as well as from lobbyists for the disabled, House leaders now advocate putting off the most sweeping changes until 2012, four years later than planned.

Overhauling voting systems before next year’s presidential election had once been a top Democratic priority, primarily to allow greater accountability and be certain that all votes registered on computerized touch-screen systems were counted. But state and local elections officials told Congress they could not make the changes in time for the balloting in November 2008, particularly in light of the extra workload involved in preparing for next year’s much-earlier presidential primary season.

Use the link to read CHRISTOPHER DREW's article in the New York Times.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

INDEPENDENTS BEGINNING TO IMPACT 2008 RACE

On June 10th, Jacqueline Salit, the Political Director for CUIP and Executive Editor of the NEO-INDEPENDENT Magazine, hosted a National Conference Call for Independent Voters. The call featured a "big picture" political update from Jackie Salit and featured some exciting developments on the ground in New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina - all early primary/caucus states

Use the link to hear the call. It is in three sections.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

Talking to Independent Voters

Thanks to the sharp eye of The Hankster

During the summer Independents usally petition for candidate placement on a ballot for the Independence Party of NY. This summer with no ballot requirements for Nov 07', we went to the streets in NYC to increase participation by telling people about CUIP.

The Committee for a Unified Independent Party, Inc. (CUIP) is a national strategy center and organizing hub that designs and executes cutting edge tactics to develop America's growing independent movement. Founded in 1994, CUIP mounts political, legal, legislative and organizing challenges to partisan control of the political process. It has pioneered methods of organizing independents without a political party, creating independent voter associations to project the voice of the 35% of the electorate that considers itself independent. For CUIP, independents are not “swing voters” who exist to be wooed and swayed by one or the other major party. Independents have strongly held beliefs about how partisanship and ideological labeling are corrupting and constraining progress. Independents defy traditional political labels; what they share is support for the principle that radical structural reform of the electoral process and of government is the urgent political necessity of the day.

Thanks to the sharp eye of The Hankster

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

‘Independent’ voted off finance island?

Mark Burnett, meet the Federal Election Commission.

Burnett, the reality TV pioneer behind “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” is teaming with MySpace on a politically themed reality show with an interesting twist. Unfortunately for him, this one could run afoul of federal campaign finance laws.

The show, called “Independent,” aims to launch next year in time for the real presidential election, though it’s still network shopping. The concept -- as presented in a hyperbolic press release predicting the show “will help reshape the face of American politics, including the next presidential election” -- is clever. Contestants will deal with issues proposed by MySpace users and the show’s viewers that will require interactions with supporters, protesters and activists. “Over the course of the series, through a combination of Internet-powered direct democracy and the broad reach of TV, viewers will be empowered to put a genuine stamp on which issues they care about most and identify the one who truly represents them,” says the release, which predicts the winner will become “the nation’s next great politician.” That person will get a $1 million prize, but not to keep. Instead, the release says, the winner must choose how to spend it from “a list of options, all political in nature.”

That is where the FEC comes in. Use the link to find out where the conflicts are.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

Which Dems Try to Limit Who Debates?

View the exchange between which democratic presidential candidates?



This is an important moment for independents to let DNC Chair Howard Dean know that we do not want him to eliminate the independent voices from the presidential debates! Use the link to learn about the Independent letter campaign.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

Claiming Democracy Conference

FairVote is taking a lead role in organizing a national Claiming Democracy conference on advancing electoral reform that will take place in Washington, D.C. on November 9-11. On November 10th they will hold their 15th anniversary dinner in D.C.’s Union Station. This will be a special affair with leaders from FairVote’s history and high-profile supporters in attendance. Stay tuned for more details – and please save the date!

FairVote is holding an exciting competition to spread the word of electoral reform and provide a creative outlet for people to express how they would like to improve our politics. In their Upgrade Democracy Video Contest, they invite people to create a short digital video answering the question, “If you could change anything you wanted about elections, what would our democracy look like?” Entries will be posted to YouTube. A panel of celebrity judges and the general public will evaluate the nominated videos, cash prizes will be awarded, and the winner will be honored at their anniversary dinner in November. Help spread the word! More information at: www.upgradedemocracy.com.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

Ramblings

George W. Bush once promised that anyone in his Administration who broke the law would "be taken care of." With the commute of Libby's jail time, we now know what he meant.

As an Independent, in 2008 the country needs our VOICE. No matter who you decide to support, let them know what is important to you, your family, your community, your country.

I look at Ballot Access News each day to see what each state is doing for and against the independent voter and candidate. Then I get envolved so they hear my VOICE.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

Highlander Center's Elandria Williams at Take Back America

Highlander Center's Elandria Williams at Take Back America was definitely one of the highlights of the panel as well as the conference. Her speach seemed half presentation half performance, and she definitely captured the crowd's attention really quickly.



I really liked her point about how youth organizations need to ask young people what it is that they want and need. Simply put, the issues that are most concerning to activists in poorer areas aren't always the issues that the broader "movement" sees as most important. As she notes, it's hard to think about global warming when you're concerned about where your next meal is coming from.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

A Political Force With Many Philosophies

The Washington Post just did a report on the Independent Voter called:

Survey of Independents, Who Could Be Key in 2008, Finds Attitudes From Partisan to Apathetic

"The new survey probes why many Americans prefer to call themselves independent. Three-quarters said voting on the issues, not a party line, is a "major reason" they claim the label, while seven in 10 said a prime factor is that they vote for individual candidates, not parties.

About half said a major reason for their independence is that they agree with Democrats on some issues and Republicans on others, and that they are not comfortable with either party. Four in 10 said not wanting to put a label on their political views is a principal reason for calling themselves independents. Fifteen percent said they are independent because they are simply not very interested in politics."

Which type of Independent are you?

To read the entire report will require you to create a free account.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us