Handsome Donkeys Tell us How to Vote for President
| By Rick Jacobs, Courage Campaign - Feb 1, 2008 7:45:29 AM PT |
I wrote earlier this week that the 3 million "Decline-to-State" (DTS) voters -- as independents are called here in California -- can change the outcome of the presidential primary here on Tuesday, just as they have in other states. But, as Jennifer Steinhauer reported in the New York Times, it's difficult for these DTS voters to actually vote for president.
Here's the deal: If you are a DTS voter -- and you want to vote for President -- you need to ask for a "Democratic Party ballot" from your poll worker. If you don't, you will be handed a DTS ballot that has a blank where the names of the presidential candidates would otherwise appear. Only the Democrats allow DTS voters to vote in the presidential primary; the Republicans cling to their idea of exclusivity, allowing only registered Republicans to vote.
At the Courage Campaign, we are determined to get the message out to voters that they can cast a ballot for the highest office in the land.
The best way to do that is video. We needed volunteers with talent; we hit a gold mine.
It shows just how "people-powered" this campaign season is becoming. I was having lunch with Peter Fisher, a very bright young man who had lost all interest in politics, but who has been totally re-energized and engaged this season. He asked how he could get more involved. Of course, I had an answer: we needed to do a funny video to get the message out to DTS voters that they have to ask for a Democratic ballot if they want to vote for president. Two days later, he hooked me up with four friends who run a comedy video production company called Handsome Donkey.
And two days after that, these talented artists finished writing, directing, acting in and editing this great video. Yeah, those donkeys are darned handsome, but wow are they talented! We'll all be seeing much more of these gentlemen in the years to come.
Meanwhile, have a look at our "Yes You Can...Vote for President" video, part of our ongoing voter contact and education work.
As you watch, try to figure out how many actors there are in the piece.
Here's the deal: If you are a DTS voter -- and you want to vote for President -- you need to ask for a "Democratic Party ballot" from your poll worker. If you don't, you will be handed a DTS ballot that has a blank where the names of the presidential candidates would otherwise appear. Only the Democrats allow DTS voters to vote in the presidential primary; the Republicans cling to their idea of exclusivity, allowing only registered Republicans to vote.
At the Courage Campaign, we are determined to get the message out to voters that they can cast a ballot for the highest office in the land.
The best way to do that is video. We needed volunteers with talent; we hit a gold mine.
It shows just how "people-powered" this campaign season is becoming. I was having lunch with Peter Fisher, a very bright young man who had lost all interest in politics, but who has been totally re-energized and engaged this season. He asked how he could get more involved. Of course, I had an answer: we needed to do a funny video to get the message out to DTS voters that they have to ask for a Democratic ballot if they want to vote for president. Two days later, he hooked me up with four friends who run a comedy video production company called Handsome Donkey.
And two days after that, these talented artists finished writing, directing, acting in and editing this great video. Yeah, those donkeys are darned handsome, but wow are they talented! We'll all be seeing much more of these gentlemen in the years to come.
Meanwhile, have a look at our "Yes You Can...Vote for President" video, part of our ongoing voter contact and education work.
As you watch, try to figure out how many actors there are in the piece.
Comments are closed for this post.
Decline to State voters here in California are NOT Independents. There IS an American Independent Party and the more people refer to DTS voters as "Independents", the MORE confusion is out there AND not allowing some people to vote the way they want. People think that when they see the word "Independent" on their registration cards they should mark that instead of DTS when they don't want ANY party affiliation.
There are ALOT of people out there who will not be able to vote Democratic during the Primary because they registered as Independent NOT DTS and didn't know the difference until after the Jan. 22 cutoff for registration/reregistration.
DTS voters are allowed to request either the American Independent Party or Democratic Party ballots for the Feb. 3rd Presidential Primary. (NOT just the Democratic) They are allowed to request American Independent Party, Democratic Party or Republican Party for the June Statewide Primary.
There IS no "DTS" ballot. It is called a NON-PARTISAN ballot. But, since most of the voters coming in have no clue what "partisan" means, perhaps the point is moot.
"Instant runoff voting offers the possibility of greater choice for voters. With IRV, they don't have to back a protest candidate who cannot win or just vote for a leading candidate they do not really like for fear of a worse outcome. They can really vote their choice."
Absolutely false! In the recent IRV election in Burlington Vermont, a group of voters who preferred Wright>Montroll>Kiss would have gotten an upgrade from their third favorite to their second favorite if they had insincerely voted Montroll>Wright>Kiss.
That election demonstrated numerous other IRV pathologies:
Link
It would be nice if IRV proponents actually knew anything about IRV and election science in general. (And if the ones who DID know about it wouldn't lie so much.)