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Uncounted Votes


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New Report Uncovers The Racially Discriminatory Effects of Provisional Ballots

Leading up to the election, there’s been important attention paid to new voting laws like those in Texas and North Carolina that are erecting more barriers to vote and could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of eligible, and disproportionately non-white, voters. A new report released today looks at an election issue that generally gets far less attention, but could result in similar problems.

The Center for American Progress report, “Uncounted Votes: The Racially Discriminatory Effects of Provisional Ballots,” is a first-of-its-kind analysis of 2012 election data identifying states where the usage of provisional ballots directly correlated with communities of color and foreign language speaking populations. After looking at all 50 states, the reports identifies 16 states where there is a statistically significant positive relationship between provisional ballots cast and counties with higher minority populations.

What does this mean? It means that it in a good portion of the country during the 2012 election, minority communities were more likely to have to cast provisional ballots. Nearly 25 percent of the more than 2.7 million provisional ballots cast that year were outright rejected, meaning more than 500,000 voters did not have their voices heard. Rejections happen for many reasons, including cumbersome voter registration procedures, restrictive voting laws, poorly maintained voter lists, election office mismanagement, and voter error.

The use of provisional ballots often reflects other problems in the election administration process, though not always. In some case, like when Hurricane Sandy displaced voters in New York and New Jersey, provisional ballots can be used as a failsafe. However, in some situations, they appear to be a used in place of effective election administration. For instance, Philadelphia reported a large amount of provisional ballots cast in 2012 because of significant election administration errors—numerous polling locations did not have accurate polling books. And that disproportionately affected minority voters. Take a look at this comparison between Philadelphia County and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), which have similar voting-age populations, but vastly different election performance outcomes with respect to provisional ballots:

The link between ballot problems and minority populations in Pennsylvania.

What can be done to improve a system that in some cases appears to have racially discriminatory effects? Because registration issues are such a big part of why provisional ballots are issued in the first place, the biggest thing that states or the federal government can do is to modernize voter registration. That could mean making registration permanent, regardless of where voters move. It could mean doing what a number of states have already done: allow same-day and online registration, which would dramatically reduce the need for provisional ballots because voters would have immediate solutions to most issues. Online registration would also help cut down on administrative errors associated with the paper registration system and make updating records easier.

BOTTOM LINE: Elections need to be free, fair, and accessible for all eligible voters. When there is evidence, like CAP’s new report lays out, that they are not due to potentially discriminatory aspects of voting laws and election administration, then legal experts and policy makers must take action to reform the process and make sure all voices can be heard.

meet Wendy Davis …


and NOT Greg Abbott …

Texas is home to millions of hardworking people of all backgrounds. Every Texan deserves an economy that will provide a quality education, good paying jobs, adequate infrastructure, and is equipped to move our great state into the future.

I’m the only candidate in this race with a vision for an economy that works for all hardworking Texans regardless of where you are from or what you look like. My plan focuses on:

  • Creating good paying jobs for Texans;
  • Investing more in schools so children are better prepared for the future;
  • Making smart decisions on transportation and water;
  • Enacting equal pay for equal work;
  • Cracking down on payday lending;
  • Closing the loopholes that cost taxpayers – like tax breaks for country clubs.

Greg Abbott has a plan too, a plan that benefits his insider allies and not hardworking Texans. We are fighting for something bigger — an economy in which all hardworking Texans have the opportunity to thrive.

7/23 Below is some great information from Wendy and a Call to help make sure she WINS TEXAS … Contribute!

Texas is a big state. There are over 13 million registered voters, representing every perspective you can think of — and we’re registering new voters every day. Our democracy is better when all of those voices are heard.

This morning, on a call with Democratic allies and our volunteers across the state, our campaign unveiled our Voter Protection Program for the fall. We’re going to fight to make sure every eligible Texan has access to the polls. It includes four major priorities:

  • Make Registering Easy: It’s critical our volunteers are trained in voter registration rules so they can efficiently help voters get registered.
  • Educate Voters: Our communications efforts — on the air, on the ground, and online — are top-notch. We’re going to use that network to make sure every voter knows how to successfully cast a ballot.
  • Promote Early Voting: Early voting in Texas starts in less than 90 days. For any Texan able to do so, we want them to vote early. In October, we will launch a statewide Election Protection Hotline to monitor irregularities in in-person early voting and will place well-trained volunteers at the polls.
  • Protecting the Vote on Election Day: From having volunteers at the polls to answer questions to setting up command centers across the state, we’re planning a massive Election Day operation to ensure voters can make their voices heard.

But in order to run our program effectively and make sure every vote counts, we need your help to fund these grassroots efforts. Help us reach our $350,000 goal before July ends. Contribute $5.

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Texans have a clear choice in the race for the next governor.

We can elect someone who supports policies that favor political insiders at the expense of hardworking Texans and their families.

Or we can elect someone who fights for all Texans — regardless of their age, race or gender.

We can elect someone who believes that politics as usual works just fine in order to move Texas forward.

Or we can elect someone who knows that for Texas to lead in the future, we need to make sure all our kids get a 21st century education and we have an economy built for the jobs of tomorrow.

This is the choice. This is the contrast between my opponent, Greg Abbott, and me.

While Abbott has spent his entire political career looking out for political insiders, I’ve spent my career in public service fighting for hardworking Texans and their families.

There’s no better example than our views on education policy.

I launched my campaign talking about education because of the critical difference it made to my family and me.

That’s why I’ve provided specific proposals to ensure every Texas child has the chance to succeed in a 21st century economy. My “Great Schools: Great Texas” proposes:

  • Full day pre-K education to every eligible child in Texas
  • Incentives to recruit and retain the next generation of great teachers
  • Expanded college opportunities for Texas high school students
  • Less standardized testing and more teaching with the resources needed to do it

Meanwhile, Abbott offered up a pre-K proposal that picks and chooses winners and losers. His plan could force 4-year-olds to take standardized tests that determine whether they get the rug yanked out from under them by starving their pre-K classroom of critical resources. There is no clearer proof of how misguided Abbott’s views on education are than this proposal.

I fought to prevent more than $5 billion in cuts to our public schools that led to school closings, teacher layoffs and overcrowded classrooms.

However, instead of joining the nearly 600 Texas school districts that went to court to stop it, Abbott fought them in their lawsuit every step of the way.

However, education is just one clear example of the differences between us.

Equal pay for equal work: Abbott says he will veto common-sense legislation that ensures women are paid as much as men for doing the same work. I will sign that legislation the minute it lands on my desk.

Texas border communities: Abbott demeaned them as the “third world.” I will work with local leaders to make sure their voice is heard and work together to improve education, build up their infrastructure and attract the kind of businesses they need in a 21st century economy.

Veterans: Abbott has accepted almost $200,000 from the payday lending industry and stood by while they preyed on Texas’ men and women in uniform. I worked to crack down on abusive payday lending practices and to limit the outrageous interest rates charged to U.S. military members and their families.

These are just some clear early examples that demonstrate Abbott is just not working for you. And it demonstrates a disturbing pattern of working for insiders at the expense of Texas families. Texas deserves a governor who fights for all hardworking Texans — not just the special interests.

That’s why I’m running.

But that wasn’t always my intention. As a 19-year-old single mom working two jobs, it was hard to imagine going to college, rising to the top of my class at Texas Christian University and earning a chance to attend a prestigious Ivy League law school. I didn’t dream of serving on the Fort Worth City Council or in the state Senate. And I certainly didn’t imagine running for governor.

I just wanted to make ends meet and make a better life for my daughter Amber and me. But I was able to achieve those things through hard work and sacrifice along with a healthy dose of help from family and friends.

That’s why I believe in the promise of Texas — a promise rooted in the belief that if you work hard, where you start in life shouldn’t determine how far you can go.

As governor, that’s one promise I will always fight to make sure we keep.

Thanks,

Wendy

Resource: Wendy’s website

San Diego for Scott Peters … #Midterm2014Matters


  •  DEMs …

We can fight back against Rove’s attacks — and win — but we must hit our grassroots goal before tomorrow night’s ad buy deadline.

Take a look at the ad for yourself. When you’re done, please chip in $5 or more to help expand our ad buy.

Thanks,

San Diego for Scott

PO Box 22074 San Diego, CA, 92192 | (858) 571-7424

Paid for by Scott Peters for Congress

This message was sent to: ynative77@gmail.com | Change or update your email address by clicking here. We believe that emails are a crucial way for our campaign to stay in touch with supporters. Click here if you’d like to unsubscribe from these messages. Thanks for your support!

 
 

a message from Kathleen Turner … Why we need Wendy Davis


Most people know me as an actress, but I’ve worked with Planned Parenthood since I was 19 to make sure all American women have access to the contraceptive care they need. And when Wendy Davis launched her filibuster in support of women’s health, I knew she was the woman needed as the next governor of Texas.

When she took the floor for her filibuster, Wendy knew what was at stake. She knew the old boys network in Austin was trying to restrict women’s access to the health care they need, and she wasn’t going to let it happen without a fight.

Wendy’s a fighter, but with only a few weeks until the election, she needs our help to stay strong. Can you contribute $5 to her campaign?

Texas has come to a fork in the road. One path will lead to more of the same — more insider politics, more cronyism in the state capital, more of the policies that have left too many Texas families working harder than ever just to tread water.

The other path — Wendy’s path — leads to a Texas in which everyone can succeed. Wendy knows firsthand how difficult it can be to pull yourself up, and she’s committed to making sure every hardworking Texan has the same opportunities she’s had.

But she can’t do it alone. Wendy’s opponent has all the special interests in his corner — she needs us in hers. Give $5, $10, or more if you can, and help make Wendy Davis the next governor of Texas.

Thanks for supporting Wendy.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Turner

Staci Appel for Iowa


Updates …

Please click here to take a look at our ad, and then share it to help us keep getting our message out!

Thank you,
Staci

 

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With Staci’s potential opponents headed to a convention this week, we can only expect their extreme positions to get even worse as they try to appeal to the same Tea Party base that endorsed Rick Santorum just two years ago.

Nothing is more shocking, though, than Brad Zaun’s and Matt Schultz’s shared views on women. They’ve both signaled support for a proposal which would severely limit a woman’s ability to make her own medical decisions.

This is precisely the reason that it is time for Iowa to Staci Appel Congress. For too long we’ve let men decide questions of women’s health – it’s time to give women a voice. Add your name today to stand with Staci against our opponents’ reckless proposal.

These so called “personhood amendments” are the latest far-right ploy to set women’s rights back nearly 50 years.

Staci is ready to take on whomever their nominee is this fall, but if it is one of these guys, this fight is going to be especially important to women across the country. This backward-looking regulation of women’s bodies needs to stop!

Join us today and stand against their reckless and outdated attempts to take away a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her body. They’re too extreme for Iowa, and that is exactly why it’s time for Iowa to send a woman to Washington.

Thanks for standing with us today.

Sarah Shepson
Appel for Iowa