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jsmirman

(4,507 posts)
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 06:37 PM Sep 2012

19 DAYS OF ACTION - DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT VOTER SUPPRESSION IN OHIO & FLORIDA?

Ok, this is an action oriented thread.

If you live in Ohio or Florida, or live in a bordering state and can work a day in one of these two states (this is more for Ohio), you have a unique opportunity.

Voter suppression efforts in this election cycle have severely compromised the voter registration efforts that are crucial not only to our chances in November, but also to our very democracy. The Republicans essentially have one motto for this election: "if too many people vote, we lose."

The decks are now clear for VOTER REGISTRATION to proceed unimpeded in both these states, but there are only 19 DAYS LEFT for people to register and be registered.

The deadline in both Ohio and Florida is OCTOBER 9TH.

Now, I would say that I need your help, but that's not it - WE need your help. AMERICA needs your help.

If you want to know the single greatest thing you can do that involves acting - not talking - it is to register voters during these next 19 DAYS.

The Where: Ohio and Florida

The Who: I am a former Obama fellow from the 2008 election cycle. I have been in touch with my OFA contacts from that campaign and will be coordinating with Organizing for America Ohio to help get anyone interested out to voter registration efforts in Ohio starting this weekend and continuing until October 9th.

I am very familiar with Ohio, having served as Chief Statistician for an Ohio-focused Dem think tank founded by ex-McKinsey Consulting people.

My Florida counterpart is the very talented younger brother of someone with a high ranking position in the Florida Obama Campaign last election.

The What: REGISTER, REGISTER, REGISTER!!!! This is all about voter registration efforts. We have 19 DAYS LEFT during which to register people. The urgency could not be higher.

The How: What I need to know are the following -

1) What days can you be available, and during what hours on those days (you can update this list as your schedule becomes clearer as we move from September 21st to October 9th)

2) What zip code do you live in (where will you be coming from)

3) How far (how many miles) are you willing/able to travel to volunteer

4) What contact information will allow me to coordinate with you reliably and effectively

I would suggest letting me know that you are interested in the thread (let's inspire each other) and sending me any of the details above (Availability/Starting Zip Code/Distance Can Travel/Contact Information) through DU mail messages.

The Organizing for America people, of course, know best of all where people are needed, but I have run some simple analyses of the Ohio electorate (my friend is working on Florida), and I think it's fairly self-evident where voter registration effort is most sorely needed.

Based on the distances you can travel and your availability, I will coordinate getting you out to the most appropriate/most crucial voting drives in striking distance of your starting address. For this reason, it is crucial that you pass along your starting zip code, as this is how I will be identifying which registration drives we can get you out to.

That's it.

This is how we fight back against voter suppression. This is how we win the election. This is how we protect the right to vote. This is a chance to materially impact this election. Please join me.

I've seen DU rise up in response to calls for action many times these last months. THIS IS AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION.

I look forward to working with you all.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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19 DAYS OF ACTION - DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT VOTER SUPPRESSION IN OHIO & FLORIDA? (Original Post) jsmirman Sep 2012 OP
Don't forget PA - we've got the worst of the voter suppression laws. On the PLUS side... HopeHoops Sep 2012 #1
Believe me, I'm following that case closely jsmirman Sep 2012 #2
Do you handle work that connects the registration submission to ancianita Sep 2012 #4
I'm pretty sure that's all state employees jsmirman Sep 2012 #5
Please check your DU inbox. nt. Atticus Sep 2012 #3
Done jsmirman Sep 2012 #6
 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
1. Don't forget PA - we've got the worst of the voter suppression laws. On the PLUS side...
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 06:52 PM
Sep 2012

... the PASC sent it back to the Circuit Court judge with some rather impossible "burden of proof" requirements on the state. He has to rule by 2 Oct and I can't see away around issuing an injunction for this election.

jsmirman

(4,507 posts)
2. Believe me, I'm following that case closely
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 08:16 PM
Sep 2012

I'm focusing my efforts here on Ohio and Florida, but if you or anyone else wants to do voter reg in PA, please let me know if you need any help arranging it - I have some great contacts in PA. That's where I was for the last two elections.

ancianita

(36,240 posts)
4. Do you handle work that connects the registration submission to
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 12:36 AM
Sep 2012

the actual rolls at the polling station? Filling out registration forms is one thing. It's the state processing that lets those forms get onto local polling records. I'd like to follow through on whether the registration forms result in those same applicants actually showing up as registered on poll records. Is there a way to do that that doesn't require that I be an actual state employee?

jsmirman

(4,507 posts)
5. I'm pretty sure that's all state employees
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 12:47 AM
Sep 2012

now, a voter can check with the county usually, to see if his or her registration has gone through - I'm not sure if the campaign can do that follow-up on someone's behalf. I'm not sure if that varies from place to place or not.

Btw, as to why systematic "voter fraud" is a laughable concept, please see my post here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1364050 (you may want to read the post it is responding to, if you need context).



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