Fair Elections! Pls. Sign, Support This Declaration of Principles!

[babylonsister]

Fair Elections! Pls. Sign, Support This Declaration of Principles!

The 2000 presidential election caused a crisis of confidence in our voting system. The 2004 election saw eligible voters unable to vote and hours-long lines in the rain, which deepened people's skepticism about fair elections.

Properly run elections are the foundation of our democracy, and there is no reason why states like Ohio and Florida should continue to have problems. But too many of us take for granted that these problems will take care of themselves.

They won't. That's why it's so important to have a clear set of principles for conducting elections and for supporting secretary of state candidates who will uphold these principles.

It's up to those of us who care about our democracy to take up this fight. That is why I am asking you to join me by supporting this simple declaration of principles and advocating them to the secretary of state or election official in your state. Read the principles and sign on here:

http://www.heartlandpac.org/VOTESDeclaration

The core principles every election official should adopt can be summed up with a simple acronym: VOTES. The VOTES Declaration outlines the steps needed to protect our right to vote and to restore confidence that all eligible citizens can vote and be assured their vote will be counted. Here's the text of the declaration:

To restore public confidence that voting is a right not a privilege, I believe:

VERIFIABLE: Every vote cast must be counted by a system that is auditable with a verifiable paper trail.

OBJECTIVE: Every election official must conduct their responsibilities openly and objectively to restore public confidence.

TOUGH: Every law to prevent voter intimidation and fraud must be vigorously enforced.

EQUAL: Every citizen must have equal access to locations, adequate machines and well-trained election judges.

SECURE: Every voting machine must be secured during all aspects of voting to protect the integrity of the count.

Will you sign this declaration? By signing you will join a nationwide campaign to demand that these core principles be implemented and upheld in your state and across the country.

Sign the declaration now and add your feedback:

http://www.heartlandpac.org/VOTESDeclaration

In 2006, twenty-one states will elect a secretary of state who has responsibility for the voting process. It's time we elect candidates who will restore confidence and integrity to the electoral process. The declaration demands a system that is verifiable, objective, tough on intimidation and fraud, equal and secure.

This election season will decide the future of our elections for years to come. There are crucial elections for secretary of state in places like Ohio, Iowa, Nevada, Colorado and 17 other states.

We need to make our voice heard in every state -- to the incumbents who will run this year's election and to the candidates vying to be entrusted with future elections.

Take the first step by signing on to the Declaration:

http://www.heartlandpac.org/VOTESDeclaration

Over the coming weeks you will be hearing more about the best and the worst of practices in various states, and learning about how you personally can improve and protect our democracy by advocating on these issues and educating others.

All the values we hold dear mean very little if ordinary Americans can't express their will clearly and accurately at the polls. I hope you'll join me as we take on the fight to address this fundamental aspect of our democracy.

Best,

Tom Vilsack

[IndyOp]

1. Signed, K&R! Thanks Babylonsister! (n/t)

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks, IndyOp. I also put it in GD/P where is sunk like a stone.

I sometimes don't get DUers; maybe they think signing stuff like this is pointless? It's only the biggest issue we're confronting!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2655450&mesg_id=2655450

[IndyOp]

3. Kick! I sometimes do feel like signing some of these is pointless, but

I sign anyway because *maybe* this person will at least get on the floor of Congress and wave the petition with XXX signatures and make good use of them.

I don't particularly like Tom Vilsack (who is DLC) - and who seems to be using this petition to get emails for his fundraising list -- HOWEVER --

If he can use my name to get some leverage on fair elections then I am willing to help.

:D

[pauldp]

4. done and kicked n/t

[paineinthearse]

5. Tom Vilsack?

:wtf:

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ka.cfm?kaid=137

DLC Leadership Team

From left to right: U.S. Sen. Tom Carper is vice chair of the DLC; U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is chair of the DLC's American Dream Initiative; Al From is founder and CEO of the DLC; Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is chair of the DLC; (Not pictured: Bruce Reed is DLC president; Pennsylvania State Representative Jennifer Mann is chair of the DLC's State Legislative Advisory Board (SLAB); Columbus (OH) Mayor Michael Coleman is chair of the DLC's Local Elected Officials Network(LEON).)

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. DLC? Tom Vilsack is chair?

wow, hmmm he is Chair of DLC?

The DLC that has been leading Dems into a corporate ditch?

Please someone tell more...not enough info here, but this concerns me.

[paineinthearse]

8. Research project - connection to DLC

Who wants to look into this "homeland" PAC to investigate the DLC connection?

[Wilms]

6. K&R n/t

:thumbsup:

[BeFree]

9. This is MAJOR!!!

The fact that a leading Dem has come out with such a statement, and desiring folks to sign on, is a major development in election reform.

Maybe I am reading too much into this, but this is the first time I have seen a leading Dem website with an election reform issue so prominently displayed.

Yeah, it's kinda milquetoast, but I do perceive it as throwing out a bone to see who chews on it. Well, I'm chewing. And it tastes good!

[eridani]

10. No question that Vilsack is taking this issue seriously

His PAC is raising funds for Brunner in Ohio--

It's time to restore fairness and integrity to the electoral process in our country. Here's how we start: in Ohio, in 2006. I know the candidate to do it. Her name is Jennifer Brunner. Heartland PAC endorses her for Ohio Secretary of State.

We thought it could never get worse than Florida in 2000 -- but in 2004, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell ran an election that was flawed in every imaginable way.

We remember how Blackwell pulled out the stops to frustrate voters: the confusing decisions that caused literally tens of thousands of provisional ballots to be tossed in the garbage. The long lines in the rain with two voting machines, while voters in Republican areas breezed through the polls. The threats to reject every voter registration form handed in on paper of the wrong weight.

Well, Blackwell is at it again: manipulating election laws for himself and his Republican allies. This is intolerable -- and that's why it's urgent to get an Ohio secretary of state dedicated to cleaning up Ohio elections and restoring a process that is free, fair, open and honest.

Jennifer Brunner needs your support and every dollar this community contributes to her campaign, Heartland PAC will match -- up to $10,000.
Campaigns like Brunner's are often overlooked, but we know how important they are. With twenty-two races for secretaries of state who oversee elections in 2006, we need to underscore this community's commitment to integrity and fairness to the electoral process. In that spirit, consider adding 22 cents to your contribution.

Say no to Blackwell's tricks, and yes to clean elections. Give now to Brunner's campaign:

http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/contribute.asp

The New York Times blasted Blackwell this week for a new abuse of power. He rushed 'emergency' rules into effect this spring that leave Ohio volunteers in voter registration drives facing the risk of criminal prosecution. It's a convenient trick, but the ultimate loser if we let these systematic abuses continue is our democracy.

Now more than ever, we need to get rid of Blackwell and other election officials who use their power to keep Americans from having their voices heard.
Jennifer has the experience, training, and commitment to clean up Ohio elections and restore confidence that voting is a right, not a privilege. Go to her site. Read her resume and her four-point plan. I'm confident you will agree that she is the right person at the right time.

But she can't do it alone. She needs our help to implement her plan. Help Brunner clean up Ohio elections -- contribute today, and we'll match your contribution:

http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/contribute.asp

Blackwell and Ohio Republicans have spent years clamping down on the right to vote, and keeping honest people away from the polls. Brunner's opponent boasts of plans to make it harder exercise this basic, fundamental right.

We cannot let them get away with that. We owe it to ourselves, if we believe in a healthy democracy, to help Jennifer Brunner clean up Ohio's elections. Every dollar you give today will mean two dollars for Brunner -- so please, contribute to her campaign:

Best,
Tom Vilsack

P.S.: We start with Jennifer Brunner because our memories are still fresh from Ohio in 2004, and because of our deep belief in her competence and integrity. She needs our support -- contribute today: