Over the years some people have criticized Ann Arbor City Council for concern over national and global issues that do not relate to the role that should be played for dealing with local issues. While I do not think that it is tactically a good idea to spend time on things over which you will have no effect, I do believe that positive and progressive change is best derived from the grassroots and that many of us can make significant contributions at a local level (Think Globally, Act Locally). We see all too frequently, how legislators across the country have been in the news recently regarding improprieties over the role of major lobbying efforts that run from outrageous and illegal to just plain contrary to the interests of the citizenry, even when technically legal.

So, I am copying this email I received about how we can act locally to address a small part of the problems in our voting system that enabled George Bush to steal the Presidency in 2004. An example of misinformation Republicans used in the past includes spreading rumors to students that they might loose their health insurance coverage through their parents, if they register to vote where they attend college (the list of these abuses is far too long to detail here).

Volunteers needed to help protect our right to vote:

We are gearing up now for the August 8 Primary and November 7 State Challengers for the Dems.

Just to clarify, the term Poll Challenging is somewhat of a misnomer for the Dems. We use the term because election law provides for the Parties to have Poll Challengers present at elections. However, Democratic Poll Challengers are not there to challenge anyone’s right to vote. We are there to protect and facilitate people voting, prevent voter intimidation and to make sure that any Republican challenges made are proper and legal.

We want to have Democratic Poll Challengers all day at all eleven precincts in Pittsfield Township in the August 8 State Primary Election because it’s particularly important to have Democrats turn out to vote there. You need not live in Pittsfield Township to Poll Challenge there. If we have enough people we will cover some student precincts in Ann Arbor, as well. We hope to try out an exciting new methodology for utilizing Poll Challengers to help with the GOTV effort by identifying Democrats who have already voted. This will reduce the number of needless telephone calls made and received on Election Day. We hope it will work and that we can use it again in the State Election on November 7. I think the importance of having Poll Challengers in the November 7th Election probably speaks for itself.

We don’t yet have enough volunteers for these important tasks, so anyone who can help on August 8 and/or November 7, should let me know at andersonb@a2mail.net.

Training dates have been set as follows: Sunday, July 30 from 2-5 PM; Sunday, October 29 2-5 PM; and Wednesday November 1, 6:30-9:30 PM. All are at the Pittsfield Township Hall. Attendance at only one of the training sessions is needed. The first training session on July 30 is primarily for those who will be Poll Challenging in the August 8 State Primary Election.

With thanks,
Brenda Anderson
Poll Challenger Coordinator
Voter Protection Committee
Washtenaw County Democratic Party