Another GOP Loyality Test

With the possibility that Republican Governor Christ might become an independent candidate for Senator, the following news is interesting.

In a memo sent to GOP party officials Thursday, the state party's general counsel decreed that because party officials — from local precinct captains to national committee members to legislators — signed an oath to support Republicans, they would be obligated to oppose Crist's unaffiliated campaign and ask for any donations to be refunded.

"Any member who fails to formally revoke his or her public support and request the return of any contributions made to a candidate running against the candidate of the Republican Party would be in violation of the RPOF Rules and would be subject to removal from party office and membership on Republican executive committees," said the memo from Jason Gonzalez, who used to be general counsel of Gov. Crist and ousted chairman Jim Greer.

Crist, has one more week to decide whether he's running for office as a Republican or independent.

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

NY Violates Voting Rights Act

The Brennan Center of Justice notified the U.S. Department of Justice on April 20, 2010 that the New York State Board of Elections has violated Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

The violation stems from the NYS Board of Elections’ recent decision to switch to new voting machines that could disenfranchise New Yorkers in the gubernatorial race this year.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act requires designated jurisdictions to submit proposed changes to their voting systems to the DOJ for “preclearance,” or approval. The recent change affects Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx — designated Section 5 jurisdictions.

The policy change involves how New York handles “overvoted” ballots. Under the new voting system — which will be used throughout the state for the first time in the September primaries — voters will fill out ballots that will be read by an optical scanner. If the machine determines a voter has selected too many candidates for a particular vote, it will not count the vote in that contest. These “overvotes” can occur because the voter misreads the ballot and selects more candidates than they are entitled to vote for, or because the machine misinterprets a voter’s mark as an extra choice.

The change is likely to have a disproportionate affect on minority voters. Florida instituted this rule change before the 2008 election, and minority voters, in particular, experienced substantially higher rates of loss due to overvoted ballots. Although minority voters will experience the worst impact, all voters in New York will be affected.

“New York should learn from Florida’s problems in 2008. The new voting machines can be modified to avoid the potential problems of lost votes,” said Lawrence Norden, Brennan Center senior counsel.” And there is a chance to fix the problem before New York’s primary.”

New York’s lever machines prevented overvotes in the past by making it impossible to cast an overvoted ballot. Under the new procedure, when a voter overvotes, New York’s voting machines will retain the ballot, rather than immediately reject it; will not notify voters of the consequences of casting an overvoted ballot; and will display a confusing message.


There is no explanation of what “over voted” means, nor is there an explanation of the consequences of casting an overvoted ballot. The screen message asks the voter whether they would like the ballot be “accepted” (indicated by a green button with a check mark) or “[not] cast” and “returned” (indicated by a red button with an “x”).

Two states, Wisconsin and Florida, have addressed this issue by revising their screens, so four advocacy groups have asked New York to take a look and do the same thing. So, for example, the notification that comes up on the screen says "You've overvoted" and a green button comes up that says "Override this” and a red button comes up that says "Take your ballot back to correct the error." So it does sort of skew it into pushing the override rather than the red button that is in the form of a stop sign that says "Take your ballot back."

Florida has revised its screen by reversing the message. In big letters: "Warning, your vote will not count in this contest. Please correct the error." And then the green button is to correct the error and the red button is to override and accept the ballot.

Any changes, unfortunately, does require work on the part of the NY Election staff, and if changes are approved, the vendors will have to modify the software and submit it for recertification. The Optical Scan vendor, ES&S, already did this in Florida, so if it was done properly and re-certified in Florida, then it shouldn't have to go through a whole rigmarole in doing it in New York. We don't know yet what the other approved Optical Scan system by Dominion response to this change will be.

The Brennan Center addressed the letter to T. Christian Herren, Jr., Acting Chief of Voting Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

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

NYC Independent Youth Speak on Behalf of Nonpartisan Elections at Brooklyn Charter Revision Hearing

Again, thanks for this post from The Hankster.


NYC Independent youth speak out on behalf of nonpartisan elections at Charter Revision Commission public hearing at St. Francis Community College, downtown Brooklyn, April 20, 2010. Speakers included Bryan Puertas, Liza Garcia, Francelli Chapman, and Tracy Thomas. Extended dialogue with Commissioners Chairman Matthew Goldstein, Hope Cohen, and Kathryn Patterson.

I am surprised that after a number of meetings, the Commission did not known about how other cities use Non-Partisan Elections. But with the delivery of the petition signed by under 30 independents, maybe this initiative has a chance to get on the ballot.

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

Bloomberg on Tea Party

The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Independent Mayor Bloomberg is now a fan of the controversial Tea Party.

"It's a bunch of people getting involved in government, in politics, that is good for the country," he said Friday of the growing anti-establishment movement.

"It stirs the pot up," he said.

Tea Party activists are calling for smaller government, something Bloomberg said "everybody would like...as long as government does what you want."


Bloomberg flirted with a presidential run in 2008 as a third party candidate and has long lobbied against partisan government.

"I don't think the partisanship we have in the country is good for anybody but I do think having two sides or three sides of a debate is good. It makes you think, it makes you question," he said.

But in listen to these different voices you need to learn how to filter the extremes.

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

Staten Island, NY Charter Revision Commission Meeting

Thanks to the great work of The Hankster for this post.

I was invited to this meeting be Sarah Lyons, Chair of the Staten Island Independence Party.




Richmond County Independence Party Chair and long-time independent activist advocates for nonpartisan elections before the NYC Charter Revision Commission public hearing on Staten Island at McKee HS on 4/13/2010.

Other independent voices:


Long-time independent and current Staten Island Independence Party member Kenneth Hicks urges NYC Charter Revision Commission to consider nonpartisan elections at the public hearing at McKee Technical HS, St. Georges, Staten Island 4/13/2010.


Independent voter and recent College of Staten Island graduate Alessandra Kane speaks about the importance of nonpartisan elections for young independents like herself and calls on the NYC Charter Revision Commission to "take us seriously," at the Staten Island Hearing 4/13/2010.


Unaffiliated voter and recent graduate of Wagner College Allen Koehler speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at the NYC Charter Revision Commission public hearing at McKee Technical HS, St. Georges, Staten Island 4/13/2010.


Unaffiliated voter Alan Weissman (SUNY Binghamton grad) speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at the NYC Charter Revision Commission public hearing at McKee Technical HS, St. Georges, Staten Island 4/13/2010.

At the Bronx meeting there was talk about eliminating the Public Advocate and Borough President departments and positions. So at the S.I. meeting there was many officials, including the S.I. Borough President, explaining why the position needed to be expanded. Expanding Local control was a major topic. Also slowing down the process to do a more complete review was asked by many speakers. Other speakers spoke about closing loopholes, like the one Mayor Bloomberg used to extend term limits that allowed him to run for a third term without voters approval. Listening to the videos explains the Independence Party's desire to put Non-Partisan Elections back on the ballot and in this years November ballot.

I am worried that the Commission could bundle the changes instead of separating them into separate issues and making its failure closer to a reality.

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

Bronx, NY Charter Revision Commission Meeting

Thanks to the Hankster for this post.


Independence Party activist Bryan Puertas speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at the Bronx, where I was born, Charter Revision Commission public hearing April 12, 2010.

Other IP members:


Independence Party activist Ramon Pena speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at the Bronx Charter Revision Commission public hearing April 12, 2010.


Bronx Independence Party Chairman Allen Cox speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at the Bronx Charter Revision Commission public hearing April 12, 2010.

I will attend the Staten Island meeting tonight.

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

Supreme Court Short List

Found this on ABC News by Senior White House Correspondent, Jake Tapper.

Former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears is also on the short list, a senior White House official tells ABC News.‬‪ Sears, who will turn 55 in June, was the first female African-American chief justice in US history, and when nominated for the state supreme court by then-Gov. Zell Miller in 1992, she became the first woman and the youngest person to ever sit on the court.‬‪

She stepped down from the court last year and currently practices law at Schiff Hardin.‬‪

A graduate of Emory University Law School, Sears was on President Obama’s short list last year. A member of the left-leaning American Constitution Society, she is also a friend of conservative Justice Clarence Thomas.‬

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

Former NYC Mayor Koch-Led Reform Group To Focus On Independent Redistricting

The effort began March 12. In the conference room at Bryan Cave, they gathered: Henry Stern, Dick Dadey of Citizens Union, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, former state comptroller Ned Regan, Jay Kriegel, Jerry Goldfeder, Frank Macchiarola, Fred Siegel, Business Council president Ken Adams, Common Cause executive director Susan Lerner, Hudson Institute president Herb London, Westchester County Association president Bill Mooney, Brian Keeler and Frank Baraff of Reboot New York, former State Senate Democratic finance chair Bill Samuels, Bloomberg 2009 campaign manager Bradley Tusk, DL21C chair Elizabeth Caputo, and political consultants Jerry Skurnik, George Arzt and Doug Forand. Along with a scattering of Koch administration veterans, like Jim Capalino and Peter Solomon, the 70-plus people spent two hours airing their gripes and plotting the revolution.

The day before, a proposed list of principles had circulated:

1. Support an independent redistricting commission to reapportion the state after the 2010 census.

2. Support the restoration of fiscal responsibility with the legislature required to deliver a balanced budget on time.

3. Support a unified court system.

4. Support the merit selection of judges.

5. Support home rule for the major cities.

6. Support greater publication on the Internet of government documents, while protecting personal privacy.

7. Support efforts to televise all proceedings of the legislature and government agencies and give the public the opportunity to comment on legislation via the Internet.

8. Support campaign finance reform.

9. Support stronger ethics, oversight, and enforcement.

Use the above link to read the entire article by Edward-Isaac Dovere on City Hall News.

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

Can independents seize the day?

Three credible independent candidates are running for governor this year in three New England states where registered independents outnumber Democrats and Republicans.

It's the latest sign that independent voters are rising from the ranks of the politically homeless to become the largest and fastest growing segment of the American electorate.

Most centrist and independent voters see themselves as too fiscally conservative for the Democrats and too socially liberal for the Republicans.

John P. Avlon is a senior political columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America."

Use the above link to read his entire article on CNN Opinion.

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

NYC Charter Revision Commission Meeting

Thanks to the Hankster for this post.


I attended the meeting in Manhattan on 4/6/2010.


Dr. Lenora Fulani urges NYC Charter Revision Commission to consider nonpartisan elections that would allow all voters, including independent and unaffiliated, to vote in primaries.


Attorney Harry Kresky speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at the NYC Charter Revision Commission.

You can read Lenora Fulani's testimony here, and Harry Kresky's here.

I was interested in discussions about Term Limits, Non-Partisan Municipal Elections, and Proportional Representation. I think the issues should be on the ballot individually, not bundled.

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

New York Plays

The East Side Institute is in the running for a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project - a web-based grant competition - in support of "New York Plays," a series of "community PLAYgrounds" for New Yorkers of all ages.

“New York Plays” is a series of three “community PLAYgrounds” where adults and young people will rediscover the value of play in helping New Yorkers to more creatively navigate these very troubling times. Play is a powerful stimulus for creativity and innovation, and helps diverse groups of people and communities to create new conversations and new confidence in themselves as agents of change. Activities will include improvisational theatre exercises, circus activities and conversational games led by experienced artists, educators and community organizers.

Goals
• To conduct at least 3 community PLAYgrounds throughout NYC
• To introduce the power of play to 300+ New Yorkers
• To train NYers interested in being community "play workers"
• To create a model program replicable in cities throughout the U.S.

In order to win, the Institute needs to be one of the top ten vote-getters (we're currently in 230th place!) by April 30th, so we're asking our friends and supporters to:

1. Use the above link and VOTE!
2. Vote every day until April 30th (which is allowed)
3. Spread the word through email, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, listservs, blogs, etc. A Facebook and Twitter link are available on the contest site.

It only takes a minute, but your vote really will make a big difference to the Institute and to communities throughout New York.

We appreciate your support.

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