Thursday, December 31, 2009

NY a Failed State

From a NY Times editorial:

"New Yorkers should be appalled at their failed state government, particularly their corrupt and clueless Legislature. Scandal and irresponsibility have been Albany’s creed for decades. This year, the gang added another outrage to the list: complete fiscal incompetence.

The only solace is this: The entire Legislature is up for re-election in 2010. And unless there is a sudden turnaround — and, so far, we see few signs of it — New Yorkers have no choice but to vote out all the lawmakers and start over."

Use the above link to read the entire article.

Michael H. Drucker
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Federal judges disallow Dallas County's use of voting machines

A three-judge panel has ruled that Dallas County election officials violated federal law when they did not inform the Department of Justice about changes in the way straight-party votes are counted on electronic voting machines.

The judges determined that the county did not get proper approval from the Department of Justice to use the county's current machines. They granted an injunction requested by the Texas Democratic Party to halt use of the machines in Dallas until they get Justice Department clearance.

The Texas Democratic Party sued Dallas County, claiming that election officials here failed to notify Justice Department officials about "emphasis" votes that don't get counted when people vote straight-party on electronic machines.

Use the above link to read the entire article by JASON TRAHAN and CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News.

Michael H. Drucker
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Open Primaries Year End Appeal

In early 2010, the legal team of independentvoting.org will be appearing in Federal Court as co-defendants in a lawsuit the Idaho Republican Party has brought against the State of Idaho.

Sound boring? it's not. It's a crucial case that political insiders from Maine to California will be watching closely. And its all about independents.

Idaho is a non-partisan registration and open primaries State. On primary day, any Idahoan can march down to their local school and vote in the primary of their choice. Last year, a faction of the GOP sued to force Idaho's Secretary of State to enact party-based voter registration and closed primary system. Several months ago, the judge dismissed the GOP's request for a summary judgment, and now we go to trial.

The case has national implications, and could potentially wind up in the Supreme Court. Millions of Americans are leaving political parties to protest the "baneful spirit of party" (paraphrasing George Washington), and the Idaho case engages whether political parties will be allowed to force state governments to institute party-based and "members only" systems for voter registration and primaries. It's a cynical, self-interested, response by right wing Republicans to the growth of the independent, "third force" movement.

Here's where you come in. Going to court is expensive, and we need to raise $40,000 to cover our legal costs. We have a great legal team, and they need our full support.

Before you decide if you can give some of your hard-earned dollars to support this fight, here's some good news:

We asked one of our top supporters, who asked to remain anonymous, to put up a $10,000 matching gift, and he said yes. Every dollar (up to $10,000) that we raise by 12/31 will be worth double. So please donate generously.

Cases like this are vital to the growth of the independent movement. They give us the opportunity to expose and challenge the partisan bias that is so prevalent in our democracy and send a strong message that independents are getting organized and are not just "swing voters" but are working to improve our democracy.


Thank you in advance for your help and Happy Holidays.

Use the above link to learn more and donate.

Michael H. Drucker
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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Is New York Ready for Instant Runoffs?

After this year's election, the main story seemed to be the outcome of the mayor's race and the future of the city for the next four years. Under the radar, however, another storyline developed following the city's primary runoff on Tuesday, Sept. 15 -- called to choose the Democratic nominees for two citywide offices. The abysmally low turnout and high cost of the runoff election -- to the tune of $15 million -- left some wondering, is it really worth it?

Some state legislators are now focused on ways to improve runoff elections, including instant runoff voting, also known as IRV and ranked choice voting.

Use the above link to read the article by DeNora Getachew, the director of public policy and legislative counsel and Andrea Senteno, the program associate for Citizens Union Foundation, which publishes Gotham Gazette.

Michael H. Drucker
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Instant Runoff Voting Is Sweeping the Country!

I have started to see more about IVR in print. I just received this in a email from The Free and Equal Elections Foundation:

One of the nation's foremost leaders of the movement for IRV and other democratic reforms is FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy. Its executive director, Rob Richie, had this to say recently about IRV's growing popularity:

“The frustrations of a two-choice, two-party system are particularly clear this year nationally, and even more so in California -- home of one of our most dysfunctional state governments. Two-thousand ten presents a crossroads for the state's reform trajectory. Voters may adopt an even more restricted general election system with the top two primary, or may have the chance to support establishing a state constitutional revision process that could dramatically expand choice through proportional representation and Instant Runoff Voting. Several more major cities could use Instant Runoff Voting for the first time, most notably Oakland, or parochial interests may try to block reform. It's a great year to get involved and stand up for democracy."

Use this link Instant Runoff Voting for more information about this new type of voting.

Michael H. Drucker
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Money, influence and the obscure world of the WFP

NY's City Hall News (use the above link to view their website), has developed a Special Investigative Report on the workings of the Working Family Party. Use these links to read the report:

All In The Family - Part 1

All In The Family - Part 2

All In The Family - Part 3

All In The Family - Part 4

All In The Family - Part 5

Michael H. Drucker
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Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Independence Party and the Black Community: A Power Partnership

The IP vote for Bloomberg on Column "C" was the highest mayoral vote on a minor party line in 40 years and double the vote total from four years ago. Minor party cross-endorsements have been crucial in New York City mayoral contests for 60 years, as they give candidates a way to broaden their appeal and voters a way to make a statement about their own political agenda. As one political old hand put it, the IP numbers "reflect rising disillusionment with the major parties." They also, as this commentator noted, were a sign of "the desire of many voters to support Bloomberg but not to identify themselves with Republicans." Obviously, many of the voters in question here are Democrats.

Use the above link to read the op-ed (pdf) from the Amsterdam News by Dr. Lenora Fulani, a founder of the Independence Party and the country's leading black independent. She hosts a monthly meeting in Harlem entitled "Conversations with a Black Independent."

Michael H. Drucker
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