Non-partisan elections, we have 'em!

Hi all,

Thanks Nancy for inviting me on to contribute. First an introduction. I'm Randy Miller and my first and only visit to NY was last January for the CUIP national conference. I live in Syracuse, Utah (I hear New York has a Syracuse too) and I am active in trying to consolidate the independent movement out in these parts.

So, yes, we have non-partisan municpal elections here in Utah. For city offices, council, mayor, chief of police etc., those positions are non-partisan and it works well I think. The net effect is that there is an outreach to the community. The parties still organize their meet the candidate nights, but so do other organizations and undecided citizens. I've been plenty active in partisanship in years past, but not too involved in politics until the last few years. Consequently, I have been double blind to how good we have it to enjoy a non-partisan system for a portion of our public offices.

Part II, corruption
I have had an interesting exchange that has been buried in the comment pile regarding a corruption investigation for a, let's say a large sum, of Bloomberg's money. And there has been an allegation that the Independence Party of New York City is or may be involved in some sort of corruption in connection with the missing money. As a non-New Yorker, let me make a couple of observations:

1. The money is flowing the wrong way for this to be a corruption issue. As I understand it, Mayor Bloomberg spent North of $100 million in his last campaign (which was extreme overkill, but I'll get into that another time) and the amount involved in this alleged corruption is less than 1% of that entire campaign expense. 2. I see from the stands that the Independence Party of New York City does not have the numbers that the Big 2 have. So it is puzzling to me what big carrot IPNYC has to dangle in front of Bloomberg in exchange for dollars.

And if it was such a big game changer, for heaven's sake, the guy was stingy, he doled out less than 1% to the outfit that 'fixed' things for him (allegedly). The justice system has a way of ferreting out the truth. If IPNYC is swimming in Bloomberg Bucks, I think I can reasonably assume that CUIP will stop hitting me up for fundraising. But I am also fair-minded, so if anyone out there has some good quality contrasting journalism, please send it my way.

I'll see you all on the CUIP conference call tomorrow evening.

Independents & Political Reform: What MoveOn.org and the Tea Parties Won't Tell You About America's Political Problems

How Independents Define Political Reform: What MoveOn.org and the Tea Parties Won't Tell You About America's Political Problems Please join IndependentVoting.org's President Jacqueline Salit on her next national conference call. Special Time: Tuesday, June 15th      at 8:30 pm EDT          (7:30 CT, 6:30 MT, 5:30 PT) To join this conference call, contact Nancy Ross or Gwen Mandell at 800-288-3201 For more information:  Nancy Ross and Gwen Mandell (212) 609-2800/800-288-3201        national@cuip.org  -  www.independentvoting.org

voting rights = civil rights

Congratulations California Independents. Now, On to New York City!

Big win for independent voters all over America -- passage of Prop 14 in California. Congrats to Californians for standing up to the party bosses!! (Media analysis below) - NH


Jackie Salit, President – IndependentVoting.org, issued the following statement on the passage of Prop 14:

“Yesterday, California voters decisively passed Proposition 14, which creates a nonpartisan primary system across the state. Though the political parties – major and minor – opposed the measure, the voters defied the partisan establishment and gave Prop 14 54% of the vote. This is the biggest margin for a political reform initiative in California in over a dozen years. And it means the state’s 3.4 million independents can participate in every round of voting. Congratulations California! Now it’s New York City’s turn. We’re saddled with a closed primary system that locks out nearly one million independent voters. The message of California is that it’s time to put political calculus aside, to put nonpartisans on the ballot, and to let the voters decide what kind of electoral system they want to have.”

Jackie Salit is the President of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independent voters with organization in 40 states. In addition, she ran Mike Bloomberg’s ’01, ’05 and ’09 mayoral campaigns on the Independence Party line. Press contact: Sarah Lyons, 212-962-1824


INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• New Registration Numbers from New York and Nevada (Independent Political Report)
• FUSION VOTING AND INDEPENDENT POLITICS (by Damon Eris, CAIVN.org) New York State is well known for its fusion voting system, in which the endorsements of minor parties are often actively sought by candidates for public office.  In 2009, when Independent Michael Bloomberg was elected mayor of New York City, it was the votes he received on the Independence Party's ballot line that provided him with his margin of victory over Democrat Bill Thompson.

PROP 14

• Calif. Voting Change Could Signal Big Political Shift (By JESSE McKINLEY, NY Times) “There is now a new political force in California,” said Royce D’Orazio, a stand-up comic who works as the Los Angeles chapter organizer for the group independentvoice.org, who spoke at the governor’s side on Wednesday. “To all our brothers and sisters in states across this country, help is on the way.”
• Assessing the effects of California's Proposition 14 (Washington Post/The Fix) The passage of Proposition 14, however, may be the vote with the longest-term impact on Golden State politics.
• Editorial: Those who voted sent a message (Sac Bee) Supporters of Proposition 14, including The Bee's editorial board, hope it will give moderates and independent thinkers more – but not complete – clout.
• Good News for Independents: California Open Primary Proposition 14 Passes With 54% (POSTED BY NANCY HANKS, EXCERPT The Moderate Voice)  NOTE: This article was run as the feature article at the top of the blog yesterday.
• Bad News for Independents: California Open Primary Passes With 54% (POSTED BY NICK RIVERA, The Moderate Voice)
• Ragin'? (— By Kevin Drum, Mother Jones) I haven't seen any polls suggesting that Prop 14 won because mobs of frenzied moderates took to the streets. It won because, of the whopping 20% of California's registered voters that cared enough one way or the other to cast a ballot, a whopping 300,000 more liked the idea than didn't. That doesn't sound especially angry to me.
• Thomas Elias: Voters show they're serious about reform (Press Telegram - Long Beach CA)
• California voters choose to get rid of party primaries with passage of Prop 14 (By Aaron Blake, Washington Post)

SOUTH CAROLINA

• South Carolina Restriction on Fusion Backfires on Democratic Party (Ballot Access News)
• Questions After Political Unknown Wins (By ROBBIE BROWN, NY Times)

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• New life for nonpartisan elections in NYC (By GREG DAVID, Crain's New York) The mayor is sure to start beating the drum loudly again because a vote this November, with high turnaround for statewide and congressional seats, will bring out those centrist voters. If ever there was a time to empower the majority of voters in New York, this is it.
• Charter Panel Eyes Advocate (By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL, Wall Street Journal)

Pennsylvania Post-Primary Advice: Candidates in mid-term elections take note: Independents are Watching You!

With the much discussed and highly contested PA primaries now over, talk among political pundits has quickly turned to the mid-term elections for US Senate and Governor. One thing that these “experts” seem to agree on, and very rightly so, is that independent voters, now nationally more than 40% of the electorate, will play a monumental part in deciding the outcome of the mid-terms. However, when asked to paint a picture of what independent voters want, who they are, and specifically how they will influence the elections, these same pundits come up surprisingly empty.

This lack of insight highlights the entrenched bipartisanship that exists not only in our political system, but in our political discourse. Independent voters are diverse in background and hold views that range across the political spectrum. This does not mean, however, as often characterized, that these voters are a nebulous bunch, unworthy of serious consideration. A far from nebulous fact offered by Stephen Bouikidis of Independent Pennsylvanians, “Independents have voiced deep concern about the breakdown of our political system. The candidates that seriously address this concern are the candidates that will come out ahead in the upcoming elections.”

Independent voters are passionately interested in increased inclusion in the electoral process. This can be seen nationally, from the passing of Proposition 14 (top two primaries act) in California this week, to the groundswell of support that Pennsylvanians have given to the Open Primaries bill ( HB 1672) introduced by Rep. Depasquale of York, PA. The bill would allow the over one million Independent voters of PA to participate in the crucial first rounds of elections, making our electoral process truly democratic and fair for all voters. This piece of legislation has already received close to 2000 signatures of support from across the state. Many voters voiced their outrage on primary day, “I’m sick and tired of not being able to vote, why are independents always silenced?” commented one voter on Independent Pennsylvanians website, http://www.facebook.com/l/82074; www.IndependentPA.org.

“Inclusiveness is needed now more than ever, when it is clear that bipartisanship has a strangle-hold on our government,” Bouikidis adds. Independents will be watching closely to see which candidates come out in favor of bill HB 1672 and other democratic reforms that include all voters.

Independent Pennsylvanians (IP) is an activist organization supporting progressive, non-partisan political reforms and is an affiliate of http://www.facebook.com/l/82074;IndependentVoting.org, a national strategy, communications and organizing center. Representatives from IP are available for commentary and views regarding the independent voter. 

Contact:

Jennifer Bullock
Independent Pennsylvanians
245 S. 16th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-957-5073
IndependentPA@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/l/82074

www.IndependentPA.org 

Proposition 14 Victory Coalition Press Conference in Sacramento - California To Have Open Primaries in 2012

The coalition that put Prop 14 on the ballot and won it on the ground speaks in celebration today in Sacramento.




Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado said Prop 14 passing is a "game changer." He said we need a government that is accountable to the people not the party bosses.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that this will take power away from the parties and put it in the hands of the people, which is what we wanted to do. He said we want to have "public servants not party servants" and that Prop 14 will help get rid o f partisan gridlock.

David Pacheco of AARP said "This is a big deal!" He said Prop 14 will end party pandering to their narrow ideological bases, so that elected officials will be able to work together better and restore faith in our government.

Joyce Dattner, Chair of IndependentVoice.org, thanked Governor Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Maldonado for standing with the outsiders (the 3.4 million independents in California) to take on the party insiders. "This is a game changing coalition," she said. [IndependentVoice.org's full statement is printed below.]


Allan Zaremberg, President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of California said that in yesterday's primary, voter turnout was around 30% -- and that vote, as in most primaries, determined most of this elections elected officials. "That's not democracy," he said. Prop 14 will allow a majority of voters to turn out in the primary.

Daniel Howle, California Independent Voter Project, said Prop 14 will level the playing field for independent voters. CIVP drafted the referendum and was prepared to petition to get it on the ballot.

____________________________________

Statement by IndependentVoice.Org
Proposition 14 Victory Press Conference
Sacramento, CA
June 9, 2010
(Statement delivered by Joyce Dattner, Chair of IndependentVoice.Org, who appeared with Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado and Governor Schwarzenegger in Sacramento at the Proposition 14 Victory Press Conference. Press contact: Jason Olson 917-658-9885)

Today is California’s Independents Day!

Over two million voters cast a “Yes” vote for Proposition 14 and against partisan politics! As a result, the 3.4 million Decline to State independent voters will have equal access to our political process. At the rate voters are choosing to become independents here in California, we expect to be over the four million mark by our next election cycle.

Yesterday, the voters of California chose progressive political reform over status quo partisanship. Proposition 14 passed by the largest margin for a political reform initiative in more than a dozen years. The voters made a clear and decisive statement that the way to fix broken government is to expand democracy, contain the control exercised by political parties, and give greater power to the people. I want to thank the independent voters and organizations across the country that aided us in our fight to expand our democracy, most especially our national ally, IndependentVoting.org. Of course, I want to thank Governor Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Maldonado for standing with the outsiders to take on the party insiders. This is a game changing coalition.

Elected officials and candidates should take note: There is a new political force in California. I highly recommend you go to our website at IndependentVoice.Org and start reading up on the issues of interest to independent voters. For as diverse a group as we are, we’re unified behind the belief that we must democratize our political process so that the people – not the parties and special interests – determine the politics and policy of our state and our country. But don’t wait too long, because the next election will be here soon. And 3.4 million independents want to know where you stand on the independents’ political reform agenda.

Finally, a word about the national implications of Prop 14. California is a bell-weather state, and our victory for open primaries and progressive democratic reform here must be used to break the hold of partisanship everywhere in America. I want to extend a direct invitation to Governor Schwarzenegger, Lt. Gov. Maldonado and the rest of our coalition partners to join with us in extending this effort nationally. And a special message to our independent friends across the country who are fighting – as we speak – to achieve or to protect open primaries and non-partisan elections in Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, and New York City: Help is on the way!

IndependentVoice.Org is a non-profit organizing California’s 3.4 million independent voters to change politics. IndependentVoice.Org is part of the national independent movement, and has been involved in fights for Open Primaries (Prop 14, Prop 62 in 2004) and Redistricting Reform (Prop 11 passed in 2008, Prop 77 in 2005, and the upcoming “Voters First Act” on the November 2010 ballot).

______________________________________

In addition, Jackie Salit, President – IndependentVoting.org, issued the following statement on the passage of Prop 14:

“Yesterday, California voters decisively passed Proposition 14, which creates a nonpartisan primary system across the state. Though the political parties – major and minor – opposed the measure, the voters defied the partisan establishment and gave Prop 14 54% of the vote. This is the biggest margin for a political reform initiative in California in over a dozen years. And it means the state’s 3.4 million independents can participate in every round of voting. Congratulations California! Now it’s New York City’s turn. We’re saddled with a closed primary system that locks out nearly one million independent voters. The message of California is that it’s time to put political calculus aside, to put nonpartisans on the ballot, and to let the voters decide what kind of electoral system they want to have.”

Jackie Salit is the President of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independent voters with organization in 40 states. In addition, she ran Mike Bloomberg’s ’01, ’05 and ’09 mayoral campaigns on the Independence Party line. Press contact: Sarah Lyons, 212-962-1824

Good News for Independents: California Open Primary Proposition 14 Passes With 54%

PROP 14

• Parties talk about lawsuit challenging 'open' primary victory (Sac Bee/Capitol Alert, Posted by Susan Ferriss) Jason Olson, director of Independent Voice, a group that backed that measure, predicted that more decline-to-state voters would turn out for primary elections with the Proposition 14 approach. Independent voters are now about 20 percent of all California's registered voters.
• California Voters Back Election Overhaul (By JESSE McKINLEY, NY Times) Richard Winger, a prominent opponent of the measure, said that “California now has the most restrictive general election ballot access in the nation,” but acknowledged the sour mood of the electorate.
• State Ballot Measures - Statewide Results (California Statewide Primary Election Results, Sec of State) 54.3% yes on 14 with 93% returns in by 4:30am
• California voters approve revolutionary 'open' primary (By Susan Ferriss, Fresno Bee) Disgruntled California voters have blown up their election system by approving Proposition 14, which tosses out the current political party-based primary system in all but presidential races... That revolutionary approach doesn't bother Jason Olson, director of Independent Voice, a group that backed Proposition 14.
• California Voters Pass Top-Two, Defeat Public Funding (Ballot Access News)
• Live blog: Coverage of the California primary election (By Paul Rogers, EXCERPT Mercury News)
• Voters OK open primaries, deny public $ for races (By SAMANTHA YOUNG (AP)
• Voters approve California open primary - Proposition 14 victory changes future elections for congressional, state legislative and statewide offices. Proposition 13, the largely uncontested quake retrofit measure, also wins approval. (By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times)
• Live Blogging the Primaries (By KATE PHILLIPS, EXCERPT NY Times/The Caucus) But be that as it may, it looks like Californians want some type of change, no?
• Maldonado comments on election results (The Californian)
• California voters approve open primary elections (By SAMANTHA YOUNG - from AP article, Forbes)
• Open Primary Measure Passes Amid Voter Disgust - Proponents hope Prop. 14 will temper political rancor (By KATHARINE MIESZKOWSKI, Bay Citizen)

OTHER PRIMARY RESULTS

• Lincoln bucks tide in Arkansas - The incumbent survived a runoff. South Carolina, California, and Nevada also saw big primaries. (By David Espo, Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer) The passage of Proposition 14 reflects voter anger in California and across the nation at a system that critics complained has been dominated by a small coterie of political activists in each of the two major political parties.
• Incumbent Holds Her Senate Seat in Arkansas Race (By JEFF ZELENY and ADAM NAGOURNEY, NY Times)
• US voters celebrate Women's Day (The Daily Maverick - New Zealand) (Some states have open primaries that permit voting across party lines, thereby blurring the kind of statement partisan voters made in these primaries.
• In today's votes, the center's under fire (By John P. Avlon, CNN Contributor) - from yesterday morning: Closed partisan primaries are a paradise for party activists, but they can lead to a vicious hangover the morning after, as parties begin to wake up to the reality that principled centrists generally have a better chance to win a general election than those from the ideological extremes.

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• When one can't vote, it gets personal! (posted by Laiza Garcia, The Hankster)  NOTE: Please welcome IP youth activist Laiza Garcia. Laiza is now reporting for The Hankster.

Avlon: Closed Partisan Primaries Lead to Vicious Hangover The Morning After

Voters in California have the chance today to vote for open primaries. This from CNN's John Avlon:

But the most potentially game-changing item on the ballot will get the least attention: a referendum called Proposition 14, which would make all future primaries open and nonpartisan, fully enfranchising the state's millions of independent voters and making it less likely that pandering to the partisan extremes will dominate the election process and lead to inevitable gridlock.

It's Primary Day - Do You Know If Yours is Open or Closed??

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Editorial: Independents: The 3rd way (EDITORIAL Albany OR Democrat Herald ) The Independents have grown into the third-largest party since being founded in 2007. They represent a bridge across the chasm created by overly partisan politicians in the two major parties. May their number grow to the point where they become a major party too. 

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Obradovich: Why you should vote - though I don't (KATHIE OBRADOVICH, Des Moines Register) If Iowa had open primaries, I gladly would cast a ballot. But I don't want to send a false impression about partisan preferences by choosing a party today, even just long enough to vote and then switch back to "no party."
• Dynamics of Election Day: State sees uptick in nonpartisan voters (Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard - Northern CA) Both the Republican and Democratic parties hold open primaries, meaning decline-to-state voters can opt to vote in either primary, or to cast a nonpartisan ballot, which doesn't include partisan primaries. Third parties -- like the Green Party and the American Independent Party -- hold closed primaries, meaning only party members can cast ballots in their primaries.
• Voters should see sunny skies on Election Day (Kimball Payne, Daily Press - VA) Virginia holds open primaries, so all registered voters can vote in today's Republican primary elections.
• Private parties - Political parties should be allowed to make own rules, forced to pay own bills (Spartenburg Herald Journal - NC) The suit, filed by the state party and its Greenville chapter, alleges that South Carolina’s open primary system denies the party’s First Amendment right to free association, and it does. A similar suit was filed in the state court system by the Greenville chapter last year.
• REGION: Nonpartisan voters can choose ballots - NEARLY 1 IN 4 VOTERS REGISTERED 'DECLINE TO STATE' (By EDWARD SIFUENTES, North County Times CA)

PROP 14

• California Proposition 14 and Baneful Effects of Party (POSTED BY NANCY HANKS, The Moderate Voice)
• SurveyUSA Poll Shows Proposition 14 Will Pass (Ballot Access News) With comments by and in response to California-based IndependentVoice.org's Jason Olson
• Giving California A Moderate Voice (POSTED BY PETER J. ORVETTI, The Moderate Voice)
• Proposition 14 (Chris Weigant, Huffington Post)
• DAILY KOS ATTACKS CAIVN (by Ryan Jaroncyk, CAIVN) See below
• California “Independent” Voter Project (CAIVP/CAIVN) Exposed as FRAUD (by Pragmatus, Daily Kos) Note: 

NEW YORK

• Top Queens Republican Is Said to Be Mired in an Inquiry Into Bloomberg Campaign Funds (By DAVID W. CHEN, NY Times) Mr. Bloomberg paid the state Independence Party, whose endorsement he had won, $1.2 million last year.
• Ex-Silver Pointer Wins Third-Party Nomination In N.Y. (FIN Alternatives: Hedge Fund and Private Equity News) Former hedge fund and private equity executive Harry Wilson got a much-needed boost to his campaign to be New York’s next state comptroller this weekend, winning the backing of the Independence Party.

When one can't vote, it gets personal!

For the last month, independents have been petitioning students and New Yorkers, in public places, engaging in a dialogue about the disenfranchisement of more than 800,000 New York voters that are kept out of the first and most crucial phase of voting. Independents have obtained signatures of registered independents, but also of registered Democrats and Republicans, in support of placing non-partisan elections on the ballot. This hard work has culminated in over 1,000 signatures by young voters in a letter to the Charter Revision Commission. Another 1,000+ signatures, diferent from the ones provided to the Commission, were included in a letter to Mayor Bloomberg. The fruits of this labor were manifested by the young people in attendance at the voter participation forum at Lehman College. The engagement of youth in attendance was evident in their testimony. Gary Allsbrook, a captivating young voter, spoke of his disappointment with the Democratic Party, "I want to tell the Democrats in this room, to step up their game and educate the people they represent."

The Charter Revision Commission has much to contemplate before making their recommendations for the November ballot. In the meantime, independents will continue to educate voters and work toward the expansion of democracy in New York City.

- Laiza Garcia


Meet Gary Allsbrook

I'm an Independent - Can I Vote in Tuesday's Primary Election?

There are primaries on Tuesday in 10 states, including California, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia. (It's considered a "Super Tuesday" primary day.)

California decline-to-state voters can choose which party primary they want to vote in, and all voters can vote for referendums like Proposition 14.

Iowa independents have to change their registration at the polling site to vote in caucuses.

Maine independents have to enroll in the party of the primary you want to vote in at the poll and have to re-register out of the party afterwards.

New Jersey has nonpartisan registration, and everyone can vote in their choice of party primary, but then you're considered one of them and you have to re-register to remain independent.

Nevada independents cannot vote in the "member's only".

North Dakota indies can vote in open caucuses.

South Carolina indies can vote in the party primary of their choice; SC has nonpartisan registration.

South Dakota independents can vote in Democratic primaries, not in Republican primaries.

Virginia has nonpartisan elections, and everyone can vote in the party primary of their choice.

Also see OpenPrimaries.org

The Baneful Effects of Party and California Proposition 14

I recently received a note in the mail from Richard Winger, publisher of Ballot Access News and the nation's premier third party ballot access expert, asking if I advocate making all elections non-partisan. Richard is a long-standing member of the Libertarian Party, and someone I consider a friend and colleague. We have been in the trenches together for many years combating unfair and undemocratic ballot access laws for independent and third party candidates around the country.

Richard said in his note that my blog (The Hankster)'s imprimatur quote from George Washington's farewell address, warning against the “baneful effects of party,” makes it seem that I think all elections should be nonpartisan.  He included an excerpt from Nancy L. Rosenblum's On the Side of the Angels: An Appreciation of Parties and Partisanship with an underlined passage:

“Party turned out to be significant: Lincoln's leadership was enhanced by political partisanship, and the Republican Party gave the North advantages in waging war....”

I'm guessing that Richard thinks the issue of how to view parties an abstract one, something that resides in his world of absolutes.

Some context is in order here, in 2010, some 150 years after the civil war. The fact is that Richard and I are on opposite sides of the California open primary ballot initiative Proposition 14. Prop 14, a popular referendum that will be on the ballot in Tuesday's June 8 primary, would create a top-two open primary for statewide elections. I'm in favor of Prop 14 because it would give voting rights (i.e. full citizenship) to California's 3.5 million registered independents, who are currently excluded from the first round of voting unless the parties invite them to participate. For me, the issue is historical and tactical. The disenfranchisement of independent voters is a civil rights issue and one that must be addressed here and now as the damage the parties and partisanship are causing to our government and to our country is alarming.

Richard does not support Prop 14 because he puts party ahead of voters’ rights. And I think there is a relationship between this and his “absolutist” view on the “party” question. After all, each party, and in particular the smaller, more ideologically cohesive minor parties, is convinced that its world view, its stand on the issues is the correct one.

The Geo. Washington quote has become quite popular these days because there is a growing anti-party movement in America that is independent not only of the two major parties, but independent of partisan politics and structures altogether.  Our founding fathers -- rich, white and slave-owning as some of them were --  conceptualized a unique form of modern democracy. And perhaps even more importantly, they lead the people -- rich and poor, men and women, frontiersmen and townsmen, farmers and merchants, to make a revolution.  My positions stem from my activity and are closer to both of these traditional American values. Expansion of democracy and revolution.

Was the Republican Party an obstacle to the expansion of democracy in the 1850s? No, it was a new party that rose quickly to national visibility because of the historic political crisis centering around the issue of slavery. I believe what we are witnessing today in the independent anti-party movement might well be nothing less than a second American revolution, one that is being organized from the bottom up and one that is inclusionary of everyone. History (not the parties!) will tell.

-NH

Governor Schwarzenegger To Join Open Primary Supporters To Urge A 'Yes' Vote On Reform Measure

 

Proposition 14 gives equal access to the same ballot for all and makes politicians accountable to voters instead of political insiders 

 

 

Who:          Governor Schwarzenegger

                   Lt. Governor Maldonado 

                   Sam Thomas, AARP California  

                   Royce D'Orazio, IndependentVoice.Org 

 

When:        June 8, 2010, Primary Election Day

                   9 a.m. PST

 

 Where:      Kenter Canyon Elementary School (200 feet from polling site) 

                   645 North Kenter Avenue, Los Angeles, CA‎ 90049  

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 6/7/10

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Hispanic Voters Drift From GOP (By MIRIAM JORDAN, Wall Street Journal) The report by the nonpartisan National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, or Naleo, also shows Hispanics—the fastest-growing voter bloc—are increasingly prone to register as independent, mirroring the trend among all voters
• Iowa Democrats have 100,000 more registered voters than Republicans (BLOG POST BY JENNIFER JACOBS, Des Moines Register)

PROP 14

• Head Strong: Calif. idea is worth a look for all of us (By Michael Smerconish, Philadelphia Inquirer) Yes, there are exciting primaries for the office of governor and senator, but what is really worth monitoring is the ballot initiative Proposition 14, which would drastically change the way the Golden State (and hopefully, the country) elects public officials.
• Will bored California Democrats stay home on Election Day? (By Steven Harmon, Mercury News)
• The Prop. 14 bait-and-switch (Michael Feinstein, LA Times) Note: author is co-chairman of US Green Party
• Proposition 14 Puts Primaries Shakeup on California Ballot - 'Top Two' Proposal Championed by Governor, Opposed by Parties (By ALEX PEPPER, ABC News)
• Wayne Root: ‘The Prop 14 Disaster: The End of Free Speech, Independence, Choice and Dissent’ (Independent Political Report) Note: Indeed, the END OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT!!! HIDE YOUR DAUGHTERS!  - NH

NORTH CAROLINA

• Brad Smith, Diligent Independent Candidate for U.S. House in North Carolina, Intervenes in Ballot Access Lawsuit on Side of Plaintiffs (Ballot Access News)

OREGON

• Independents get their shot in Oregon's governor race (By NIGEL DUARA, Seattle Times) For voters, this means ballots in what's called "fusion voting" may look slightly different.

NYC CHARTER REVISION
(Photo by IPNYC activist Laiza Garcia)

• For Charter, it's all in the timing (Crain's New York) Another issue that clearly falls within the serious work category is nonpartisan elections, particularly since it was defeated only several years ago. Answering these questions demands real deliberation.
• Charter Revision: Speaking Truth to Power (City Pragmatist) In a pre-emptive strike against the evening’s main event, Community Service Society CEO David Jones argued that non-partisan elections and the elimination of party primaries would erode the gains that minorities have achieved through the Democratic Party. Harry Kresky of the Independence Party rebutted him. Phil Thompson bemoaned the exclusion of non-citizens from the election process. Jones noted that the incarcerated were similarly excluded.
• Last Nights Charter Revision Hearing (100 Percent Bronx blog) Goldstein then allowed each of the five to have eight minutes that turned into fifteen minutes to talk on the subject of low voter turnout in New York City elections. When it got to lawyer Kresky the subject of non-partisan elections was interjected by him as a way to increase voter participation, and the partisan Independence Party crowd cheered. 

NEW YORK
Note: NYC Independence Party about 25% input on decisions about statewide candidates, and therefore has limited influence.

• Showdown simmering over Independence Party Attorney General nod (ELIZABETH BENJAMIN, NY Daily News)
• Como To Skip Addabbo Senate Race And Renew BoE Exec Director Push (By Edward-Isaac Dovere, City Hall News)
• WFP blinks, endorses placeholders (Maggie Haberman, Politico/On New York)
• DiNapoli gets WFP, but Indies back Wilson (Albany Times Union/Capitol, by Jimmy Vielkind)
• The Working Families Party: We Will Unify With Democrats (By Azi Paybarah, WNYC)

Lenora Fulani: We must say Yes, absolutely, you can, to independent and nonpartisan voters

Dr. Lenora Fulani speaks in favor of nonpartisan elections at NYC Charter Revision Commission issues forum at Lehman College in the Bronx last Wednesday, June 3. About 200 independents came out in support of putting the question to the voters. The Commission will decide what issues will go on the ballot.


Video by Laiza Garcia

Independent Leaders Host Press Conference Call To Discuss Importance Of Passing Open Primary Measure

From Yes On 14:

Call on ‘Decline-To-State’ Voters To Pass Proposition 14 And Empower Californians 

Moving to an open primary system will empower California’s 3.4 million Decline-To-Sate voters by giving equal access to the same ballot for all. Under the current partisan primary system, these voters are disenfranchised by party bosses who can simply decide if they are even allowed to vote in each primary. Partisan primaries are undemocratic at best - discriminatory at worst. 

Date/time: Monday, June 7, 2010 - 9:15 am 

Who:      Steve Peace, Founder, California Independent Voter Network

               Jason Olson, Director, IndependantVoice.Org 

Instructions:

               Call-in: (218) 339-2500

               Passcode: 387498 #

For more information on the speakers visit: www.caivn.org and www.independentvoice.org

200 NYC Independents Turn Out for Charter Revision Forum on Voter Participation

NYC Charter Revision Commission expert witness David Jones says nonpartisan elections discourages voter turnout.  About 200 NYC independents fill the seats, create standing room only, and chat during "the break". Great conversation at the Charter Revision Issues forum at Lehman College in the Bronx, 6/2/10.

Kresky: Nonpartisan Elections Not Necessarily Radical, But Big Change for NYC

Independent attorney Harry Kresky testifies as an expert witness before the NYC Charter Revision Commission at Lehman College June 2, 2010,  Nonpartisan elections, he says, are not necessarily a radical change, but it would be a big change, an historic change for politics in New York City. It would mean getting NYC in sync with the electorate and what's happening nationally in politics. A change that would make it possible for everyone to participate.

Phil Thompson on NYC Nonpartisan Elections: Voting is a Social Activity

Expert witness at NYC Charter Revision issue forum, Dr. Phil Thompson talks about the social culture of elections and voting. Dr. Thompson supports nonpartisan elections.

NYC Charter Revision: Special Elections are Nonpartisan -- Question Role of Parties in the Voting Process

NYC Charter Revision Commissioner Hope Cohen asks panel of experts on voter participation about the role of parties and special elections. Response from NYC Independence Party organizations' attorney Harry Kresky. Bronx Lehman College issues forum 6.2.10. "No one is talking about eliminating parties, the question is the role of parties in the voting process."

MIT Professor J. Phillip Thompson Backs Nonpartisan Elections

Dr. Thompson spoke as part of an expert panel on the NYC Charter Revision Commission issue forum on voter participation on Thursday at Lehman College in the Bronx.

"MIT Professor J. Phillip Thompson also backed nonpartisan elections, arguing that they would be unlikely to diminish black, Latino or low-income turnout, a common concern. To the argument that nonpartisan politics would empower self-financed candidates with little grassroots support, Thompson said: "I think the horse is already out of the barn on that." He added that nonpartisan voting is unlikely to affect mayoral races, but would "open up races at the City Council level." - Jarrett Murphy, City Limits

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 6/4/10

OPEN PRIMARIES

• SC: GOP demands party registration (BY JIM DAVENPORT, Post and Courier) The GOP says South Carolina's open primary system denies the party's First Amendment rights to free association.

PROP 14

• “OPEN” PRIMARY MEASURE,PROP 14, OPPOSED BY ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN CALIFORNIA (East County Magazine)
• California's Prop 14: Death Sentence for Third Parties? (Brian Doherty, Reason Magazine)
• Calif. proposition may marginalize Christians (Becky Yeh - OneNewsNow)
• Ralph Nader warns Californians: Vote NO on Proposition 14 – Stop the “Top Two” Tyranny (Green Party Watch)

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• To Party or Not to Party? (Gotham Gazette/Wonkster) Last night, Harry Kresky, an election lawyer who has served as counsel to the New York Independence Party, led the charge for nonpartisan elections. In his testimony, he noted that more than 750,000 registered voters in New York not affiliated with any party are shut out of primaries altogether, and 1.3 million cannot vote in the Democratic Party, which very often is the real election in this city.
• Dems challenge idea of non-partisan elections (By SALLY GOLDENBERG, NY Post)
• Will Nonpartisan Elections Make for Dumber Voters? (Wall Street Journal)

NEW YORK

• Cuomo in Rift With Working Families Party (By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE, NY Times)
• Cuomo: WFP = NO (BY CELESTE KATZ, Daily News/Daily Politics) Cuomo has, however, accepted the nomination of the Independence Party, which has an operative who is also under investigation related to the fate of money spent on Mayor Bloomberg's 2009 campaign. The operative, John Haggerty, now works for GOP gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino, who has defended the hire.

Conversation About Nonpartisan Elections for NYC Grows

NYC CHARTER REVISION
Drive For Nonpartisan Voting Confronts '03 Failure (By Jarrett Murphy, City Limits) "This is a civil rights issue," Independence Party activist Bryan Puertas said after the hearing, comparing the plight of independent voters to blacks who were barred from white lunch counters in the Jim Crow south. Kresky compared the move toward nonpartisan elections to the historical shifts that gave blacks and women the vote.

Mayor Bloomberg readies for fight to make elections nonpartisan after failing to do so in 2003
(BY ERIN EINHORN, KATHLEEN LUCADAMO AND ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU)  At a raucous meeting at Lehman College in the Bronx last night, legal experts sparred over whether nonpartisan elections would hide candidates' beliefs from voters.


Local Elected Officials Rally Against Nonpartisan Elections (By: Grace Rauh, NY1-Bronx)

Democrats Hold Pre-emptive Press Conference Against Nonpartisan Elections (By Michael Gonda, NY Observer)

Will Nonpartisan Elections Make for Dumber Voters? (Wall Street Journal)

Harry Kresky to Charter Revision Commission: Increase NYC Voter Participation - Allow 1.4 million voters to participate in the crucial first round of voting

Wednesday night's NYC Charter Revision issue forum at Lehman College in the Bronx featured an expert panel on the topic of voter participation, including NYC Independence Party attorney Harry Kresky.

CORRECTION: NYC Charter Revision Voter Participation Issue Forum Today, Wednesday June 2

Correction and update:

Today's NYC Charter Revision Commission issue forum will hear testimony from expert witnesses, including NYC Independence Party Harry Kresky. Please join other independents at Lehman College tonight at 6pm. (Yesterday's Hankster post has been corrected - sorry for the confusion!)

Partisans Rise for Elections Battle (By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL, Wall Street Journal) "If you accept the fact that in most New York City races the winner of the Democratic primary wins the general election, then we're talking 1.4 million voters who can't participate in that critical first round of voting," Mr. Kresky said. "So, it's really a fundamental issue of democracy—a political system that excludes that many voters is not a good thing."

VOTER PARTICIPATION ISSUE FORUM
Wednesday, June 2
Place: Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Music Building
BRONX
Time: 6 p.m.
Directions: By subway, take the 4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd and walk west. By bus, take the Bx2, Bx10, Bx22, Bx28, BxM4A, or BxM4B

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 6/2/10

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Move On, MoveOn! (Jacqueline Salit, Huffington Post)

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Primaries in three states may yield additional clues to national electorate's mood (Yahoo News) Both Alabama and New Mexico are holding open primaries to replace two incumbent governors who can't run again because of term limits.

PROP 14

• Washington State’s Third Party Leaders Issue Anti-Proposition 14 Statement (Posted by j.kohn, Free and Equal blog)
• Poizner opposes open-primary bid - Proposition 14 would put candidates on same ballot (BY JOHN MARELIUS, UNION-TRIBUNE)
• Election manipulation initiatives should be defeated (Thinking it Through, by RICHARD REEB, Desert Dispatch)
• $65 million raised to pass, defeat Primary propositions (Wendy Poon, News 10 ABC)
• Will Open Primaries Work? (Robert Gammon, East Bay Express)
• California Propositions (By Kevin Drum, Mother Jones) For all its flaws, the current system strikes me as fairer and more transparent than Prop 14's pseudo-runoff system.
• Lt. governor visits Humboldt County (Matt Drange/The Times-Standard)
• CLENDENIN: Proposition 14 would be bad for democracy, voters (By Joan Clendenin, Modesto Bee)
• Yes, Prop. 14 will change the way politics is done – for the worse (Orange County Register/Orange Punch-Freedomblogging)

CALIFORNIA

• California Independent Voters Network Publicizes Repressive California Independent Candidate Ballot Access Laws (Ballot Access News)

COLORADO

• Legislator has stake in La Plata County lawsuit (By Charles Ashby, Grand Junction Sentinel) In that case, La Plata County Commissioner Joelle Riddle is asking the court to rule that the law keeping her name off the ballot violates her First Amendment rights to free association and her 14th Amendment rights to equal protection under the law.

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• Partisans Rise for Elections Battle (By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL, Wall Street Journal) "If you accept the fact that in most New York City races the winner of the Democratic primary wins the general election, then we're talking 1.4 million voters who can't participate in that critical first round of voting," Mr. Kresky said. "So, it's really a fundamental issue of democracy—a political system that excludes that many voters is not a good thing."

LAST WORD

• How Obama's Enemies May Give Him a Boost (By MARK HALPERIN, Time magazine) This article contains The Moderate Voice's Quote of the Day

NYC Charter Revision Commission Topic Forum: Nonpartisan Elections Wednesday June 2, Bronx

The next meeting of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, which will hear expert testimony about voter participation, will be held Wednesday in the Bronx. The meetings will be open to the public and to public input. Nonpartisan elections for NYC is considered by many to be an youth issue. No less than 45 percent of young people nationally consider themselves independent, and at least 25 percent of NYC Independence Party registrants are under the age of 30.

VOTER PARTICIPATION ISSUE FORUM
Wednesday, June 2
Place: Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Music Building
BRONX
Time: 6 p.m.
Directions: By subway, take the 4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd and walk west. By bus, take the Bx2, Bx10, Bx22, Bx28, BxM4A, or BxM4B

Independence Party founder Harry Kresky--who is the nations leading legal advocate for independent voters--has been invited to join the panel of experts advising the Charter Revision Commission on the subject of nonpartisan election.

The June 2nd forum is a critical moment in the process of determining whether an initiative for nonpartisan elections will go on the ballot for voter approval.

The Independence Party is mobilizing members to attend in order to make plain that nonpartisan elections -- which would allow NYC's nearly 1 million independents to vote in primaries -- is a popular issue with broad public support and should go on the ballot for voter approval.

Please join the contingent!
-NH

building snuffing sunset

Jackie Salit: Move On, MoveOn!

As the number of registered independents grows, and as the independent movement grows, there is increasing interest in political reform such as open primaries, nonpartisan elections, and nonpartisan redistricting. IndpendentVoting.org president Jackie Salit penned this important post on HuffPo (co-authored with prominent independent attorney Harry Kresky, and Jason Olson, director of California's IndependentVoice.org

and major independent spokesperson for Prop 14, "Move On, MoveOn!":

The biggest impediment to the advancement of democracy in our country is the two major parties. By blocking efforts at structural change they seek to perpetuate (and in some cases reinforce!) a system in which smaller and smaller numbers of people -- the most ideologically committed party activists -- determine who we can elect to office and how and whether legislation is considered from Washington to City Hall.

I repeat: We gotta get outta this place, before it's the last thing we ever do....!


-NH

Talk Talk with Fred Newman and Jackie Salit: Determinism Run Amok

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Every week CUIP's president Jacqueline Salit and strategist/philosopher Fred Newman watch the political talk shows and discuss them. Here are excerpts from their dialogues compiled on Sunday, May 30, 2010 after watching selections from "Hardball with Chris Matthews," "PBS NewsHour," "This Week" and "The McLaughlin Group."

Salit: I know. These terrible things happen. Everybody's very upset about this. And Axelrod says 'We're working on a solution. We've mobilized all the great scientists from everywhere in the world.

Newman: That's at least a lie, but surely an exaggeration.

Salit: OK, at a minimum, we've mobilized some Nobel scientists. And, he says, 'We're working on this and we haven't gotten to the solution yet.

Newman: Right. And Matthews, in his typical provocative and sometimes dumb way says: 'What happens if you don't find one?

Salit: And the answer is?

Newman: Then, we'll fail.

Salit: We'll fail, yes.

Newman: People have failed before.

Read Talk/Talk in its entirety here.

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 6/1/10

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• On the Agenda: Snapshots of the upcoming election (By: Harvey Kronberg, News Austin 8)
• Tea party: Activists cause real problems for GOP (By Robert Watson, Sun Sentinel)

OPEN PRIMARIES

• The cowardly attack on a hero's record (By PETER WORTHINGTON, TORONTO SUN)
• Last minute info before heading to the polls (By Jeanie Powell, WAFF Alabama)

PROP 14

• Statewide voters will be asked to weigh in on five propositions on the June 8 ballot (The Desert Sun)
• Proposition 14 calls for open primaries (Jonathan Mumm, ABC News 10)
• Californians support open primary measure, polls show (BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI, San Diego News Room)
• Calif. voters to decide whether to open primaries (By SAMANTHA YOUNG (AP)
• Open-primary measure could reshape California' political system — or not. (By Denis C. Theriault, Mercury News)
• St. Abel's Vanity, Willful Ignorance, and Prop 14 (By Brian Leubitz, California Progress Report)
• Our View: Propositions -- The Sun-Star recommends ... (Merced Sun Star) yes on 14
• Little evidence in Washington that 'top two' primary moderates politics (By Torey Van Oot, Sac Bee)
• California Republicans will shift to caucus system if open primary initiative passes (By Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Oakland Tribune)

REDISTRICTING

• Florida redistricting attracts amendments, lawsuits (By CATHERINE WHITTENBURG | The Tampa Tribune)

GOVERNORS RACES

• NY GOP has rare uncertainty over governor’s race (Boston Herald)
• GLENN COOK: Harry Reid's easy ride almost over (Las Vegas Review Journal)

CALIFORNIA

• Whitman Leads in Republican Race for California Governor Nod (Business Week)

NEW YORK

• Andrew's duty (NY Post) But Working Families -- unlike the Independence Party -- isn't a political party at all; it's a clearinghouse through which elected officials are bought and sold by New York's public-employee unions.
• Proposal Could Shed Light on Who Helps Candidates (by Courtney Gross, Gotham Gazette) The push follows a Supreme Court ruling that lifted a ban on independent campaign spending by corporations. It also comes as the Manhattan district attorney investigates money funneled from the Independence Party last fall to a poll worker operation run by a campaign advisor to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.