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Election 2008
10.28.08 - Before You Head to the Polls
We all know this is an important election - choosing a new President of the United States. But many states have other races and issues on the ballot that are just as important to each individual state. Judges, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Representatives and Senators, State Treasurer, and more are up for grabs! Also on state ballots may be amendments to your state Constitution and other initiatives that could have huge impacts on your daily life and community.
We urge you to read up on the issues and candidates that you will see on your ballot on November 4. Check out your local election offices, county election board websites and/or your Secretary of State websites; many states create voter guides or pamphlets that lay out the details of the ballot, including full language of amendments and initiatives. You can sometimes find hard copies of these guides at public libraries and post offices.
And if you still aren't registered to vote, you may be in luck! Some states - like Minnesota and Maine - allow you to register on Election Day. Click here to find registration deadlines and states that offer Election Day registration.
Other resources you may find helpful include:
Early
Voting
Thousands of voters have already voted thanks to early voting. Does your
state offer early voting?
Click here
to find out.
Vote
411
Created by League of Women Voters Education Fund, this website can help
you find your polling place, identify what will be on your ballot, and
more.
Vote
Smart
Project Vote Smart's "Voter Self Defense System" helps you search
by state or zip code to see what candidates are running for which office
and what the issues and legislation are in your state!
Thanks - and we'll see you at the polls on November 4th!
09.24.08 - Your Vote Matters - Register Now
Hey ya'll,
Voter registration deadlines are coming up fast. Every state is different, but the earliest cut-offs start October 4! Click here to see what date applies to you in your state.
This is an important election and we want to make it easy for you. You can even register online! Click on the HeadCount link and it will take you to a great organization dedicated to making voter registration easy: HeadCount.
Another good resource is www.vote411.org. You can confirm an existing voter registration - find your polling place - learning your rights as a voter - and much more!
Now that you are registered, remember to GET OUT AND VOTE. And be sure to share this email with your friends and family. Election Day is November 4!
Thanks!
Amy
and Emily
During our summer tour, we will be partnering with HeadCount, Project Vote and League of Women Voters to provide voter registration opportunities and election information at each of our concerts. We hope you will visit their tables at the shows, register to vote (if you aren't already registered!) and learn more about the important work these groups are doing.
We are also proud to announce that our Vote 2008 t-shirt, available at our merchandise table, is part of a fundraiser for Project Vote. Five dollars from every t-shirt sold will be donated directly to Project Vote, an organization that has helped more than 4 million Americans in low income and minority neighborhoods register to vote, including 1.1 million in 2003-2004. The last few elections especially have shown that election fraud and corruption runs rampant in our country and huge segments of our population remain disenfranchised, even if their right to vote is written into the law. We applaud Project Vote for their relentless organizing in these communities, helping to ensure every American's voice is heard.
REGISTER TO VOTE!
OUR PARTNERS
HeadCount
A non-partisan, not-for-profit organization devoted to
voter registration and participation in democracy. They were founded in
2004 by a group of artists, music industry professionals and fans, all
determined to make sure the live music community is well-represented at
the polls. In 2008, they are working with a range of artists with the
goal of registering 200,000 new voters. Their mission is to give every
socially-conscious music fan an outlet for his or her passions, working
with artists and volunteers to stage political, environmental, and charitable
activity throughout the United States.
www.headcount.org
League
of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization,
encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase
understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy
through education and advocacy. Since 1920, they have fought to improve
our systems of government and impact public policies through citizen education
and advocacy relying on a vast grassroots membership that spans the entire
United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong
www.lwv.org
Project
Vote
Since its founding in 1982, Project Vote has dedicated
itself to increasing civic participation and voter engagement in low-income
and minority communities. In 2004, Project Vote registered 1.15 million
low- and moderate-income and minority voters, and mobilized 2.3 million.
Project Vote keeps a vigilant eye on any barriers facing voters during
elections and works to prevent such disenfranchisement; their website
is full of resources and news relating to voter intimidation, violations
of the National Voter Registration Act, and related issues.
www.projectvote.org
VOTER & ELECTION RESOURCES
electiononline.org
Electiononline.org is a forum for
learning about, discussing, and analyzing election reform issues. With
up to the minute news, electiononline.org is dedicated to being a clearinghouse
on information related to anything and everything related to elections.
From new voting machines and absentee ballots to state-by-state voter
ID requirements and election day news (such as extended polling hours),
electiononline.org is a valuable citizen resource.
www.electiononline.org
On
The Issues
On the Issues’ mission is to provide non-partisan
information for voters in the Presidential election, so that votes can
be based on issues rather than on personalities and popularity. Their
user-friendly website will help you sift through the immense amount of
information available in newspapers, speeches, press releases, and the
Internet.
www.ontheissues.org
Project
Vote Smart
Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan citizen’s organization,
has created the Voter’s Self-Defense System as a tool for voters
that provides information on candidates in five basic categories: biographical
information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest
group ratings. Regardless of where you live, Project Vote Smart empowers
voters with the tools they need to navigate local and national elections
and ballot initiatives. Project Vote Smart relies on hundreds of volunteer
hours – from self-identified liberals and conservatives (and everything
in between) – to provide accurate and unbiased information.
www.vote-smart.org
vote411.org
Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund
(LWVEF) in October of 2006, VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop"
for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information
to the public with both general and state-specific information on the
following aspects of the election process: (1) Absentee ballot information
(2) Ballot measure information (where applicable) (3) Early voting options
(where applicable) (4) Election dates (5) Factual data on candidates in
various federal, state and local races (6) General information on such
topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye (7) ID requirements
(8) Polling place locations (9) Registration deadlines (10) Voter qualifications
(11) Voter registration forms and (12) Voting machines.
www.vote411.org
© 2009 Indigo Girls. All rights reserved.