Campaign to Lobby Congress

Independentvoting.org's has a new campaign calling on Congress to conduct hearings into the structural biases against independent voters.

It has gotten off to a promising and eventful start.

Use the above link to share some of the early highlights in the new
newsletter about the campaign.

Make sure to send in your stories, pictures and letters to Congress as the campaign grows.

Democracy wins when independents are included.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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Party, Movement or Person?

I have been thinking about this topic for awhile. I have always been a person voter. I have always registered since 1965, in one form or other, as an independent. I have been a voter in NY, CA, NJ, and WA. Since retuning to NY in 2000, I decided to take part in the political process and became a member of the Independence Party and now I am in my 4th term as part of the State Committee and local Executive Committee of the party. Since NY is a Fusion state, I am still able to support candidates of different persuasions who share my objectives of structural political reform.

Here in NY, we have a group called CUIP & IndependentVoting.org whose mission is:

A national strategy, communications, and organizing center working to connect and empower the 40% of Americans who identify themselves as independents, to develop a movement of independent voters for progressive post-partisan reform of the American political process. Independents seek to diminish the regressive influence of parties and partisanship by opening up the democratic process. Independents in the CUIP networks are creating new electoral coalitions such as the Black and Independent Alliance, supporting new models of nonpartisan governance and striving for the broadest forms of “bottom-up” participation.

Use the above link to find out more about CUIP.

Here are others with similar thoughs like mine:

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - "Since I've been one of everything in my career at one time or another, I don't think that party matters, What you want are people who are independent in their views. That they don't listen to the party bosses. That they listen to the issues. They're smart enough to analyze it. That they have the experiences that we need in the legislature to know how to address the problems."

Damon Eris, independent blogger - "I am looking forward to the presidential elections of 2040. If, over the next thirty years, the US electorate proves incapable of retiring the majority of sitting legislators and executives, and if, over the same period, the free market proves incapable of retiring the majority of television talking heads we are forced to tolerate, it is a good bet that by 2040 time itself will have retired them for us."

So in the future, are we ready as voters to look at the candidates as indivuals?

NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NY NEEDS ELECTION REFORM NOW

Citizens Union last week released a detailed list of recommendations for election reform in New York. The recommendations fall under four broad categories: dismantling the Board of Elections; creating a new state and local election structure; ways to standardize and improve campaign finance and current Boards of Election; and easing barriers to voting.

Use the above link to read the recommendations.

Michael H. Drucker
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NYC Citizens Union Wants Non-Partisan Elections Board

The New York City Citizens Union held a press conference today in Albany to propose overhauling the New York State Board of Elections and making it easier for New Yorkers to vote.

The good government group is lobbying to see the creation of a new nonpartisan system to end the two-party management of elections. In doing this, the group argues, needed accountability and stronger integrity will be brought to the administration of elections.

Use the above link to read the entire article by T.J. RAPHAEL, Legislative Gazette staff writer.

Michael H. Drucker
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Politics for the People Class

This post is possible because of the great work of the Hankster. Use the link on the left to read her great posts.


The Cathy L. Stewart Politics for the People Presents: The ABC's of Column C -- How the NYC Independence Party Became the True Voice of Reform and Political Independence.

ABC's of Column C focused on the history of the Independence Party, what we stand for and the role we played in the growth of the national independent movement.

Politics for the People was founded in 2002 by Cathy Stewart, the Manhattan County Chair of the Independence Party and key leader of the independent movement in NYC and nationally for over 25 years. A dynamic speaker, Stewart breaks down politics for diverse audiences and always encourages lively dialogue.

I attended this class. I have been a speaker at a prior class.

Michael H. Drucker
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CUIP National Conference of Independents

THE POST-ELECTION INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT:
PRINCIPLES INTACT
PARADIGMS IN TRANSITION
OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE
I hope you will join me at CUIP's upcoming national conference. The conference will be held on January 25th, 2009 in New York City.

Five days after Barack Obama is sworn in as president, we'll be meeting to shape the future of the independent movement. The Democratic Party may have seized the moment to create the opportunity for change. But it's not at all clear that the Democrats, and the Republicans, can deliver the necessary change. That is the job of independents. And that is our challenge. I hope you will be with me in New York on January 25th.

CUIP has arranged for rooms at the Holiday Inn at a special rate. Please call 800-231-0405 or 212-581-8100. Ask for code XCU.

You may find cheaper hotels by going onto one of the travel websites such as: travelzoo.com, orbtiz.com, expedia.com, etc.

Please contact CUIP's national coordinator Nancy Ross at national@cuip.org or 212-609-2800/800-288-3201 to make reservations for the conference, limited housing availability and for more information.
_____________________________________________________

Last night, 12/15/2008, The New York City Organizations of the Independence Party - the third largest party in New York State - dedicated to involving independent voters in recreating our political culture held their Ninth Annual Anti-Corruption Awards.

The Anti-Corruption Awards is the occasion when we honor business, political, and community leaders who participated in the fight against political corruption and partisanship, and work to build our movement.

I was one of the recipients' of the award with 11 other New Yorkers. We also give Richard Winger, the country's leading authority on independent and third-party ballot issues and the founder, publisher and editor of Ballot Access News, www.ballot-access.org, an award.

Michael H. Drucker
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Take the Post Election Survey

Independentvoting.org has a post election survey.

They want to know what Independents think!

Independentvoting.org is the national website for the Committee for a Unified Independent Party.

The election is over and independent voters, who comprised 29% of the total electorate, played a vital role in the primaries and the general election.

A new national conversation has emerged and projecting the voice of independents is more important than ever. The country's vitality depends on it! Lets get millions of independents talking about what we just accomplished and where the independent movement should go from here.

Use the above link to take the new independentvoting.org survey.

Michael H. Drucker
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Petition Requirements Soar in Some States

From Ballot Access News:

In approximately half the states, the number of signatures required for a new party, or an independent candidate, depends on how many voters voted in the last election, or on how many people were registered to vote in the last election. In some of the states with the most restrictive requirements, the 2010 or 2012 requirements are substantially higher than they were in 2006 or 2008. This is because, across the nation, turnout and registration were relatively high this season.

California requires a statewide independent candidate to submit a petition of 1% of the number of registered voters at the last election. In 2008 a statewide independent needed 158,372 signatures, but in 2010 such a candidate will need 173,041 signatures. No one has qualified as a statewide independent in California since 1992.

Georgia requires a statewide independent candidate to submit a petition of 1% of the number of registered voters at the last election for which that office was elected. In 2008 an independent presidential candidate needed 42,489 signatures. In 2012 an independent presidential candidate will need 57,582 signatures, unless the law is changed. In 2010, a new party that wishes to run a full slate of candidates for U.S. House will need 287,910 signatures.

Texas requires an independent presidential candidate to collect signatures equal to 1% of the last presidential vote. In 2008 such a candidate needed 74,108 signatures. In 2012 such a candidate will need more than 80,531 signatures (Texas hasn’t finished its official tally yet; the requirement will be somewhat higher than 1% of the unofficial tally).

North Carolina requires a new or previously unqualified party, and a statewide independent, to submit signatures equal to 2% of the last gubernatorial vote. In 2008 the requirement was 69,734. In 2010 and 2012 it will be higher than 85,376.

Michael H. Drucker
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Independent Movement's Members Endorse Obama

How Independent Movement's Members Decided to Endorse Barack Obama:

Nearly 11,000 people voted in our Endorsement Survey.

How The Voting Worked: We asked which candidate was best suited to move the country away from the special interests and towards the American people's interests. Members chose their first and second choices from among the major party candidates and leading third party/non-affiliated candidates.

How You Voted: Barack Obama won with 59% of 1st ballots counted, and 64% of 1st and 2nd ballots combined. The other notables were Chuck Baldwin, Ralph Nader, and Cynthia McKinney, who each received about 10% of the vote. Based on your votes, Independent Movement has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President!

Together, we're working to take control of our political system. We're taking on a political culture that has both major parties responsible for the economic mess we're in.

And the majority of us believe that supporting Senator Obama in this particular Presidential Election is the best choice to do that.

Use the above link for more information about the Independent Movement.

Michael H. Drucker
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Black America Going Independent

Dr. Lenora Fulani, a founder of the NY Independence Party, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her historic 1988 run for president when she became the first African American and first woman to get on the ballot in all 50 states. Fulani shared Double Dutch chocolate cake wtih friends and supporters at Harlem Day.

Michael H. Drucker
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National Conference for Independents

SAVE THE DATE!

The Committee for a Unified Independent Party

will host its biennial

National Conference for Independents

in New York City

Sunday, January 25, 2009

(Opening Reception on the evening of Saturday, January 24th Workshops and Trainings, Monday, January 26th)

Details to Follow
Check the above link (www.independentvoting.org) for updates!

For more information, contact Nancy Ross at 1-800-228-3201 or via email at national@cuip.org

Committee for a Unified Independent Party
225 Broadway, Suite 2010
New York, New York 10007
(212) 609-2800


Michael H. Drucker
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Ron Paul urges third-party vote

Texas Congressman Ron Paul is to urge voters to reject Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain and vote for a third-party US candidate instead.

Dr Paul, who dropped his own bid for the Republican nomination earlier this year, has a big internet following. He is backing independent Ralph Nader, Libertarian Bob Barr, Constitution Party contender Chuck Baldwin and Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney, a former Democratic congresswoman for Georgia.

"The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two-party system," he will tell a Washington news conference. "This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment, principled candidates."

According to an advance copy of Dr Paul's remarks, he will say the mainstream parties have no major differences on important issues, such as balancing the budget and civil liberties.

Mr Nader is quoted by the Associated Press as saying the gathering of third-party candidates would "raise the eyebrows" of commentators sceptical about their chances in November's presidential election. "This is the beginning of the realignment of American politics," he told the AP.

There was one empty chair next to the other candidates, set aside for former Republican Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia. Barr is the Libertarian Party's candidate, and he decided to hold his own conference immediately after the unity event.

Barr told the audience at his press conference, "I'm not interested in third parties getting the most possible votes. I'm interested in Bob Barr as the nominee for the Libertarian Party getting the most possible votes."

Michael H. Drucker
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