Values into Action: UUs Reclaiming
Democracy
2012 General Assembly, Phoenix
MUUSJA
Minnesota UU
Social Justice Alliance
Reclaiming Democracy Panel
• Randy Parraz—2010 AZ Senate Candidate,
Citizens for a Better Arizona and Maricopa
Citizens for Safety and Accountability
• Kindra Muntz—Sarasota Alliance for Fair
Elections and the UU Legislative Ministry of FL
• Jennifer Thomas—Voting Rights Working Group
and MN UU Social Justice Alliance
• Kara Smith—Unitarian Universalist Service
Committee
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Democracy Makes Our Voices Equal
Special thanks to Google Images!
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Undermined: Control the Vote Count
• On-going
threat to our
democracy
– Aided by
paperless
electronic
voting
• Focus of
previous GAs
– Programs
– Actions of
Immediate
Witness
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Undermined: Control Access to Voting
• Initially, only white male educated
landowners could vote.
• Over time, the franchise was expanded
to include all economic groups, racial
minorities, women, and young voters
• This expansion is under consistent
attack so on-going vigilance is needed to
protect voter access.
• Much of the protection has come from
the Federal government.
• This threat to democracy is my focus
today.
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Presidential Voter Turnout Is High
Rates Restored to Earlier Highs in 2008
•
•
•
Yellow is Voting Age Population Turnout Rate: divide number of votes by "voting-age population”
Green is Voting Eligible Population Turnout Rate: based on eligible to vote; excludes non-citizens, felons; includes overseas
No decline since 1972 (18 year olds). Turnout rates restored to their earlier high levels as of 2008.
Dr. Michael McDonald, Department of Public and International Affairs, George Mason University http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm
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2010 Midterm Rates Are Much Lower
But Turnout Only Falls for Some Groups
•
•
US VEP 61.6% in 2008 and 41.0% in 2010
Democrats lost big in 2010 because many young and minority voters stayed home
Ezra Klein, http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/11/democrats_lost_big_because_you.html
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Voter ID Makes All Elections Like
Non-Presidential Years
• 11% of the voters
do not have a
“Voter ID”
• Groups with much
higher rates tend to
vote Democratic
• This makes Voter ID an effective tool to suppress
Democratic voters
• New “Jim Crow”, introduced in 34 states
• And it sounds reasonable to the 89% of voters with
an ID
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Voter ID Does Not Impact All Equally
• Elderly, voters with disabilities, veterans, and
women are also less likely to have current IDs
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Also Targeting
Election Day Registration
• Target in Minnesota,
disguised as “Voter ID”
• Targeted directly in
Maine and grassroots
effort restored it!
• EDR/SDR historically
boost turnout rates by
10-12 points
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Top 10 Voter Turnout 2008
Year
State
VEP Highest Office
Turnout Rate
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
Minnesota
Wisconsin
New Hampshire
Colorado
Maine
Iowa
Michigan
Alaska
Oregon
Missouri
US Average
US Low - Hawaii
77.8%
72.4%
71.7%
71.0%
70.6%
69.4%
69.2%
68.0%
67.7%
67.6%
61.6%
48.8%
Red denotes Election Day Registration or Same Day Registration
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Top 10 Voter Turnout 2010
Year
State
VEP Highest Office
Turnout Rate
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
Minnesota
Maine
Washington
South Dakota
Oregon
Wisconsin
Alaska
Colorado
Iowa
Vermont
US Average
US Low: District of Columbia
55.4%
55.3%
53.2%
52.8%
52.7%
52.1%
52.0%
50.7%
50.0%
49.5%
41.0%
28.9%
Red denotes Election Day Registration or Same Day Registration
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Also Targeting Early Voting
• Georgia, Florida,
Wisconsin and
Ohio have ALECbased legislation
cutting back on
early and Sunday
voting
• Makes it harder
to vote for
church groups
and working
class voters
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Also Targeting Voter Rolls
• Florida trying to illegally purge minorities from voter
rolls, again – it was widespread in 2000
• DOJ forced it to stop
– But not all states are covered by the Voting Rights Act
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Allegations of Fraud Fuel Suppression
• Lots of allegations - almost no convictions
– Despite years of federal and state effort to document it
• False allegations used as a smokescreen to pass
voter suppression legislation
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Backers of Voter Suppression
• ALEC is funded
by the Koch
Brothers and
large
corporations
• They draft model
legislation
• Highly partisan
ties & promote a
partisan agenda
• Good news: ALEC lost corporate support when ALEC
Exposed highlighted their participation in “Stand Your
Ground” laws – same committee promoting voter ID
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Legitimate Election Reform
• Has broad, bi-partisan support
– “Voter ID” does not
• Supported by established nonpartisan groups such as LWV, ACLU,
Common Cause, NAACP, AARP
– All oppose “Voter ID”
• Supported by professional, nonpartisan elections officials
– All oppose “Voter ID” in
Minnesota
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UU Principles Ground Our Work
My congregation’s opposition to “Voter ID” is a statement
of conscience based on core UU Principles:
• 1st Principle – inherent worth of all – it’s not fraud
when students, homeless , disabled or new citizens vote
• 2nd Principle - justice, equity and compassion – it’s not
fair to have a disproportionate burden on our most
vulnerable citizens: elderly, young, poor, rural, military
• 5th Principle – democratic process – we seek an election
system that is high-functioning and enjoys the
confidence of all voters.
The resolution supports our visionary goal to be a visible,
influential voice acting to shape the larger community into
a more just and equitable society.
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How You Can Help
Winning One Conversation At Time
• Stay informed – seek alternative media
– “Sunshine” is powerful as seen with ALEC!
• Help educate others
– Letter writing, house parties, phone
banking, door knocking
– Grassroots can win as seen in Maine!
• Align with good government groups
– LWV, ACLU, Common Cause, NAACP
– Seek elections groups in your state
– Find or start a UU State Advocacy Network
• Lobby the Federal government to do it’s job!
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BIG MONEY,
BIG MEDIA
BIG PROBLEM
Money is buying our elections,
elected officials, and the media
TALK RADIO reaches more
people than television!
RUPERT MURDOCH
Is this all we can do??
Reach out with social media
SEEK alternative news
sources
• Independent news media
• QUESTION local broadcasters
and newspapers when they
underreport or misrepresent the
news
Partner with other faiths
and other organizations
• UUA MULTICULTURAL GROWTH & WITNESS
• UNITED4THEPEOPLE.ORG
• THEDARTCENTER.ORG
Join the UUs and Allies Nationwide
Community Radio Network
Build your statewide UU
Legislative Ministry
We are one of 13 Nationwide
JOIN US!
Dos and Don’ts This Election Season!
Nonprofit organizations, including
congregations, have an important role to play
in speaking to communities and the
candidates about issues we care about. There
are many laws governing the role that a
nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status
can take in the election process.
We CAN’T
•
•
•
•
•
Tell people who to vote for
Endorse candidates or parties
Make campaign contributions
Rate candidates on issues
Let candidates use organization resources
(unless they are made available to all
candidates)
We CAN!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Advocate for the issues we work on
Ask tough questions
Partner with community organizations
Educate voters about the process
Encourage and remind people to vote
Distribute nonpartisan materials
Sponsor candidate forums to educate voters
about the issues
• Support or oppose ballot measures
We CAN!
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Small Group Discussion
• What are two things you are going to do when
you get home?
• Who in your congregation can you work with?
• Who in your community can you work with?
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Appendix
Values into Action: UUs Reclaiming Democracy
Workshop information:
Friday, 6/22/2012 9:00:00 AM - 10:15:00 AM
Phoenix Convention Center -- 232 AB
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS Much is at stake in upcoming
elections. Regressive policies and corporate control oppress
people on the margins and disenfranchise the vulnerable.
Hear from frontline activists working on the Arizona recall
election and voter rights in other states, and learn what
UUs and our partners can do together.
SPEAKERS
Kindra Muntz, Randy Parraz, Kara Smith, Jennifer Thomas
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