"Yes, You Can... Vote for President" -- Courage Campaign Targets 300,000 Decline-to-State Voters in California
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008
Los Angeles, CA — The Courage Campaign today launched the “Yes, You Can…” campaign to inform 300,000 “Decline-to-State” (DTS) voters of their right to vote in California’s Democratic presidential primary. (NOTE: According to California Republican Party rules, the Republican primary is only open to registered Republican voters).
“Independent voters are making an unprecedented impact on primary elections across America this year. But, in California, if you don’t know to ask for a Democratic ballot, you don’t get to vote for president,” said Rick Jacobs, founder and Chair of the Courage Campaign. “The ‘Yes, You Can…’ campaign will help Decline-to-State voters exercise their right to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate on Election Day.”
Using phone calls and email, the Courage Campaign will be contacting 300,000 registered DTS voters across California with a simple message: “Yes, you can… vote for President.”
DTS voters will receive an informative email message (full email message appended below this Press Release) that directs recipients to a “FAQ” web page. The Courage Campaign page includes answers to frequently asked questions DTS voters typically ask about casting a Democratic Party ballot:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/vote
DTS voters are allowed to vote in the Democratic primary, but they rarely participate. In the March 2, 2004, California presidential primary, only 8% of those unaffiliated voters requested a Democratic ballot. The actual numbers are starker: About 207,000 DTS voters cast Democratic ballots for a presidential candidate, even though approximately 2.5 million were registered to vote.(1) Meanwhile, more than 3 million Democrats, or 47%, voted in the 2004 primary. (2)
In order to vote in this year’s Democratic primary, voters registered as DTS must request a Democratic Party ballot, either from their local registrar or from a polling place worker on election day. If they do not request a Democratic Party ballot, DTS voters will — by default — receive ballots that include only state and local initiatives.
The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot for the Democratic primary is Tuesday, January 29. Meanwhile, voters who cast their ballot at the polls on February 5 must specifically request a Democratic Party ballot from a poll worker — but poll workers are not required to inform DTS voters of their right to participate in the Democratic primary.
“Imagine walking into the polling place expecting to vote for your favorite presidential candidate and receiving a ballot without presidential candidates?” said Jacobs. “Without an information and outreach campaign, the odds are that — just like 2004 — only a handful of Decline-to-State voters will participate in one of the most significant and engaging presidential primary elections of our lifetime.”
Decline-to-State voters are the fastest growing segment of those registered to vote in California. According to Secretary of State Debra Bowen, 19.3% — almost one-fifth — of the state’s voters are now registered DTS, double the number of DTS registered voters in 1992 (9.5%). Meanwhile, Democratic and Republican party registration has steadily decreased since 1992, with Democrats declining from 48.5% to 42.7% and Republicans declining from 38.9%.to 33.6%, respectively.(3)
“Polling of DTS voters carries very little validity since the barriers to casting a ballot are so high,” said Jacobs. “The Courage Campaign’s mission is to educate voters and build a more progressive California. We see increasing the opportunity for DTS voters to participate in the Democratic party primary as an important step in achieving our mission.”
- http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/regstats_02_17_04.pdf
- http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_primary/voter_stats_by_party_mar04.pdf
- http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/60day_presprim/hist_reg_stats.pdf
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You are receiving this important email message because our records indicate that you are registered as a “Decline-To-State” voter in California. The purpose of this message is to help you exercise your right to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate in California’s Democratic Party primary on February 5. To continue to receive important updates about presidential politics and California issues, please join the Courage Campaign today at:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/signup
Dear Name,
Yes, you can… vote for President.
If you are registered as a “Decline-To-State” voter in California, you have the right to vote for a presidential candidate in California’s Democratic Party primary on Tuesday, February 5.
You just have to ask for a “Democratic Party ballot.”
Yes, it’s that simple. To vote for your favorite Democratic presidential candidate, all you need to do is ask a poll worker at your polling place for a “Democratic Party ballot.” If you are handed a ballot that has no presidential candidates listed, just hand the ballot back to the poll worker and ask for a “Democratic Party ballot” instead.
Yes, you can… vote for Barack Obama, John Edwards or Hillary Clinton. To find out how you can exercise your right to vote in the Democratic Party primary, check out our helpful web page providing answers to frequently asked questions posed by “Decline-To-State” voters just like you:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/vote
Here’s the deal:
The Democratic Party specifically allows “Decline-To-State” voters to vote for their favorite Democratic presidential candidate in the Democratic primary. (NOTE: According to California Republican Party rules, “Decline-To-State” voters are NOT allowed to vote in the Republican Party primary).
That’s right. If you are a “Decline-To-State” voter, you do NOT have to be a Democrat to vote for President. And, even after voting for a Democrat, you can still maintain your “Decline-To-State” status — your registration remains the same.
Yes, you can vote… for either John Edwards, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, February 5. Just ask for a “Democratic Party ballot.” Find out more here:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/vote
Across America, independent and “Decline-To-State” voters are changing presidential politics, voting in record numbers for Democratic candidates in presidential primaries and caucuses.
As an independent, “Decline-To-State” voter in California, you have the power to change politics as usual in our state and across the country. By asking your poll worker for a “Democratic Party ballot” on February 5, you could help decide who will be the Democratic Party nominee — the person who could become the next President of the United States.
But, to exercise your right to vote for Hillary Clinton, John Edwards or Barack Obama, you must do one very important thing…
You must request a “Democratic Party ballot” at your polling place on Election Day. For more information on how to vote for a presidential candidate in the Democratic Party primary, please visit our web site at:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/vote
Yes, you can make a difference.
If your friends don’t know about asking for a “Democratic Party ballot” at the polls, please forward this message to them right now. The more people that know, the more people will vote.
Thank you for your time and thank you for doing everything in your power to make Tuesday, February 5, a day that changes California and transforms America.
Rick Jacobs
Chair
Courage Campaign
P.S. What is the Courage Campaign?
We are a California-based progressive online organization that empowers people just like you to plug-in to politics and turn out to vote. If you would like to receive important messages like this from the Courage Campaign in the future, you can sign up now at:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/signup
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