|
 |
Democratizing Elections Call back some faint spirit of Jefferson and Lincoln, and when again we can hold a fair election on real issues, let's vote, and not till then. Is this impossible? Then democracy in America is impossible. ~ W.E.B. DuBois
Many Americans believe that voting is either irrelevant as a tactic for pursuing genuine democratic social change, or that casting and counting ballots is the sum total of democracy. Although current U.S. elections are indeed a farce, elections have the potential to play a necessary role in ensuring that people can meaningfully participate in making the decisions that affect their lives.
Liberty Tree's Democratizing Elections Program strives to fundamentally transform U.S. elections by nurturing a powerful new voting rights movement that will implement the fundamental and systemic electoral reforms defined in the "Voter Bill of Rights." Organizing ResourcesRuckus: A Call for Nonviolent Direct ActionThe Ruckus Society has developed an election-focused action toolkit you'll want to check out. We also recommend United for Peace and Justice's non-violent direct action resources. Voter Bill of RightsFrom unreliable electronic voting machines and millions of uncounted ballots, to partisan election officials and 10-hour waits at the polls, it is clear that our electoral system is in dire need of an overhaul. To build a more just, secure, and robust democracy, please support the following 10-point Voter Bill of Rights . . . NewsWeekend Voting Act Introduced in CongressDate: January 7, 2009Election Transparency SuccessDate: December 18, 2008ILLINOIS' LESSON: Democracy Prevents Corruption, Lack of Democracy Breeds ItDate: December 10, 2008Take ActionDon't Let Them Steal --THIS-- Election (12/12/08)source: No More Stolen Elections!Support Fair Elections Now!source: Public CitizenAlert: Protest against ballot, machine, pollworker shortagessource: No More Stolen Elections! and TrueVote.usEventsU.S. Social Forum II(June 22, 2009 - June 26, 2010)Another World is Possible! Another U.S.A. is necessary! Extending Democracy w/The Progressive, Manski, Farsetta, Gray, Wellstone(May 1, 2009 - May 2, 2009)Major speakers include Robert Redford, Amy Goodman, Naomi Klein, Barbara Ehrenreich, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the editorial staff of the Progressive Magazine. Liberty Tree's Ben Manski, together with various members of Liberty Tree's Board of Directors and Board of Advisors -- John Nichols and Robert McChesney, among them -- will also be speaking at this exciting event. The Next Generation Voting Rights Movement(March 5, 2007)Publications & TalksNICHOLS: Special Report on the 2008 Elections(November 5, 2008)"A great democracy that is home to a very busy people ought not ask citizens to wait up to eight hours to cast their ballots, But that is precisely what America has done during the course of this most volatile and critical of election seasons." Advancement Project: Several Battleground States Not Prepared for Voter Turnout(October 9, 2008)A look at the Advancement Project report that lies as the imputes for our recent Action Alert on polling place capacity. Prospects for Participatory Democracy in the U.S.A"The task . . . is to facilitate the growth of an aggressive democracy movement in the United States." |
 |
Creative Copyright 2005
~ W.E.B. DuBois