Fw: Protect your vote: MoveOn's election protection card.

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Eli Pariser, MoveOn PAC

Nora

Wednesday, October 27, 2004 12:49 PM

Protect your vote: MoveOn's election protection card.

 

 

Together, we can make sure that what happened in 2000 doesn't happen

again. We've put together a wallet-sized card with all the numbers you need to

know if someone interferes with your right to vote.

 

Download your election protection card now by clicking here.

 

(Requires Adobe Acrobat software to load.)

 

Dear MoveOn member,

They're doing it again. In Nevada, a Republican contractor has allegedly ripped

up thousands of Democratic registration forms.(1) In Florida, Jeb Bush has

purged tens of thousands of legitimate voters -- mostly black, mostly Democratic

-- from the rolls because their names are similar to a felon's.(2) In Ohio, the

Republican Secretary of State has been so uncooperative that a federal judge

said that he " apparently seeks to accomplish the same result in Ohio in 2004

that occurred in Florida in 2000. " (3)

 

But there's one big difference between the election of 2000 and the election of

2004: this time, a number of powerful, well-staffed groups will be aggressively

responding to each and every instance of voter intimidation, suppression, and

fraud. Messing with our right to vote is a felony, and with your help we'll make

sure that anyone who does is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

 

We've put together a wallet-sized card that has all the numbers and information

you need if someone tries to stop you from exercising your right to vote. You

can download it now at:

 

http://cdn.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/ep_card.pdf

 

In a great majority of polling places, of course, voting will be very efficient

-- even fun. Poll workers will guide you through the process. They're

non-partisan, and they are there to help.

 

But it's likely that some precincts will be targeted for vote suppression, and

that's what we have to be on the look-out for. Since one key suppression tactic

is slowing down the voting process, we have to be careful not to fall into that

trap. Don't obstruct: just demand that whoever is giving you trouble step aside

with you and let the voting continue.

 

But before we get into what you should do if things go wrong, here are a few

pointers to help make sure your voting experience is a good one:

 

 

a.. Find your polling place ahead of time. Having this information ahead of

time will help make sure that you can zip to the polls and back during that

half-hour lunch break. You can locate your local polling place using your zip

code at http://www.mypollingplace.com. In most cases, the site will tell you

what kind of voting machines to expect and how they work. (By the way, if

mypollingplace.com conflicts with information you've received from your county

or state election officials, use the official information.)

 

b.. When in doubt, ASK. Poll workers are there to help you. They'll show you

how to work the machines, and if you're at the wrong polling place, they should

tell you how to get to the right one. Every polling place should also have a

posted list of your voting rights, and instructions for filing a complaint if

your rights have been violated.

 

c.. Know your rights. If you're an eligible voter, you have the following

rights:

a.. If your name is not on the official voter list but you believe you are

eligible to vote in that precinct, even if an election official challenges your

vote, you have the right to cast a " provisional ballot. "

b.. If you're in line when the polls close, you should stay in line because

you're entitled to vote.

c.. In many states, your employer must allow you time to vote at some point

during the day. You can't be fired for being late due to long polling lines.

d.. You have the right to vote without being intimidated by anyone.

e.. For your rights in your own state, check out this website:

http://www.ourvote.com/

 

d.. Bring photo ID, preferably government-issued ID or a utility bill, phone

bill, or paycheck with your name and current street address. If you're a new

registrant, it may be required.

 

e.. Vote in the morning. In a great majority of polling places, everything

will go smoothly, but by going early you can help prevent lines later in the

day.

 

f.. A regular ballot is better than a provisional ballot. If your eligibility

to vote is questioned, ask if you can cast a regular ballot by providing

additional ID or by going to another polling place. Only cast a provisional

ballot if there's no alternative available.

So, what if something does go wrong?

 

First, document it. If there are specific individuals involved who are

challenging your right to vote, intimidating voters, or interfering with the

process, try to get their names. Write down exactly what happened, including the

time of day, descriptions of the people involved, and any other details you can

remember.

 

Then, report it. There are lots of organizations that will be working to respond

quickly to complaints of voter intimidation, suppression, and fraud. Here's who

to call:

 

 

a.. MoveOn PAC: Go to http://www.moveonpac.org/. On election day, our website

will host a form where you can post your problem and get help.

 

b.. Common Cause: Call 1-866-MYVOTE1. Common Cause has set up a hotline that

you can call to report any problems you have voting. They'll document where

problems are occuring, watch for wide-spread voter suppression, and provide

real-time legal help to the hot spots.

 

c.. 1-866-OUR-VOTE. This hotline has been set up by a coalition of nonpartisan

groups to deal with the most serious problems on election day. They have

hundreds of lawyers standing by to immediately respond to the most egregious

problems. 1-866-OUR-VOTE is the " 911 " of voter suppression hotlines. Please

don't call unless your problem is serious enough that you have to talk to a

lawyer immediately.

Again, to download a wallet-sized card with all of this information that you can

bring with you to the polls, go to:

 

http://cdn.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/ep_card.pdf

 

As Bill Clinton said at a rally with John Kerry on Monday, " They're trying to

scare the voters away from the polls. It worked so well in Florida, they seem to

be trying it elsewhere. " We're not going to let them get away with it. And with

your help, we'll make sure that anyone who tries to stop people from exercising

their right to vote ends up behind bars.

 

Thanks for everything,

--Adam, Eli, Hannah, James, Laura, and the whole MoveOn PAC Team

October 27th, 2004

 

P.S.: If you have any questions, you can find your Secretary of State's office

online at:

http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/

 

Or try reaching their office by phone, at:

919-733-7173

 

Footnotes:

1. http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2421595 & nav=168XRvNe

2. Greg Palast, Harper's Magazine, October 2004.

3. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9992999.htm

 

 

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC www.moveonpac.org

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

 

 

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