Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
http://www.migreens.org
>>> ---------------- <<<
>>> News Release <<<
>>> ---------------- <<<
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
---------------------
July 17, 2003
For More Information Contact:
----------------------------
Marc Reichardt -- Party Chair, GPMI
phone: 734-668-9628
e-mail: chair@migreens.org
John Anthony La Pietra -- Elections Coördinator, GPMI
e-mail: jalp@internet1.net
>>> Greens Endorse NAACP Improvements to State Election Plan <<<
>>> ======================================================== <<<
>> Reformers Join in Urging Secretary of State, <<
>> Members of HAVA Plan Advisory Committee <<
>> to Fix Plan Before Sending It to Washington <<
> <
> "Make This a Plan that Really Does Help <
> Michiganians Vote -- *All* of Us" <
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) has endorsed the recommendations
of the Michigan State Conference of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People to improve Michigan's plan for implementing
the Federal "Help America Vote Act".
Early today, GPMI Elections Coördinator John Anthony La Pietra
submitted the party's formal statement to the Bureau of Elections
endorsing wide-ranging improvements offered by fellow election-reform
advocates at NAACP to the state's draft HAVA implementation plan.
2002 Secretary of State candidate Ray Ziarno, 2000 Senate candidate
Tom Ness, and La Pietra have been among Greens monitoring the HAVA plan
advisory committee appointed by Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and
run by Elections Bureau chief Christopher Thomas.
Ziarno twice helped force Thomas to follow the committee's meeting
agenda and take public comments. He and La Pietra presented evidence
that advanced voting methods such as instant-runoff voting (IRV) are
a legal, cost-effective use of Federal HAVA funds. NAACP supports
requiring that all new voting equipment be able to handle IRV (ranked-
order) and cumulative-voting ballots.
Ness led a letter-writing and public-information campaign for IRV
from his independent Green House in Ferndale, which also hosts the
M-FORE (Michigan Focus on Reforming Elections) project. Ferndale City
Council is due to vote later this month on a resolution supporting IRV,
and local groups across the state are mobilizing behind this method of
letting voters express more of their preferences.
Ziarno and La Pietra have also consulted with committee member
Simone Lightfoot of NAACP on Greens' support for the civil-rights
group's other proposed election reforms to make voting easier, fairer,
and more worthwhile for seniors, young people, persons with disabili-
ties, and the poor as well as people of color. The proposals include
election-day registration, better voter education targeted at disenfranchised
communities, safeguards against discriminatory
treatment, and a Voter's Bill of Rights.
GPMI chair Marc Reichardt declared: "We are proud to join NAACP in
urging Secretary of State Land and her committee to make this a plan
that really does help Michiganians vote -- *all* of us."
GPMI's statement and NAACP's recommendations are attached. For more
information on Michigan Greens' positions on IRV, voters' rights, and
other reforms, visit the Web site at
www.migreens.org
# # #
Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street *
* Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Green Party of Michigan was formed in 1987 to address environmental
issues in Michigan politics. There are Greens organized in all 50 states
and the District of Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals
and creates its own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom * Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice * Nonviolence
Community Economics * Decentralization
Feminism * Respect for Diversity
Personal and Global * Future Focus/
Responsibility Sustainability
created/distributed using donated labor
==================================================================
Statement of the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) Endorsing the
Recommendations of the Michigan State Conference of the NAACP for
Michigan's HAVA State Plan
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Green Party of Michigan hereby endorses the
recommendations offered by the Michigan State Conference of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) for amending and improving the state's draft Help America
Vote Act (HAVA) state plan.
We call on Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Bureau of
Elections Chief Christopher Thomas, the members of the HAVA State
Plan Advisory Committee, and department and bureau staff
supporting their efforts:
* to adopt the recommendations as amendments to the draft plan
released June 17; and
* to incorporate these improvements into the version of the plan
submitted to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on or
after July 17 for review, further public comments, and final
acceptance and implementation.
========================================================================
========================================================================
MICHIGAN STATE CONFERENCE OF NAACP
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HAVA (Help America Vote Act)
Ms. Yvonne White
President
Michigan State Conference of NAACP
Ms. Simone Lightfoot
Chair
Michigan State Conference of NAACP
Political Action Committee
Tower Center Mall
15412 Grand River Ave., Floor M
Detroit, MI 48227
(866) NAACP-MI (Toll Free)
(313) 835-9671 office
(313) 835-9671 fax
www.michigannaacp.org
June 10, 2003
PROCESS & FRAMING
· The Michigan HAVA plan should publish a detailed funding chart
outlining HAVA requirements, Michigan's election improvements
and the costs associated with these improvements.
DISABILITY ACCESS
· Define "accessible" and Set Deadline.
Although HAVA requires one "accessible" voting system in every
polling place by January 1, 2006, and allocates $100 million
to make polling places physically accessible, there is no
definition for "accessible" or a deadline for implementation.
The Michigan HAVA plan should include a definition of
"accessible" and set a deadline for complete implementation.
· Provide Permanent Absentee Ballots.
The Michigan HAVA plan should offer permanent absentee ballots
for voters with disabilities who voluntarily wish to vote
absentee.
· Provide Privacy & Independence.
HAVA requires that each polling place have "at least one
direct recording electronic voting system or other voting
system equipped for individuals with disabilities." The
voting system must "be accessible for the blind and visually
impaired in a manner that provides the same opportunity for
access and participation (including privacy and independence)
as for other voters."
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS (PB)
· Define "jurisdiction" as the State.
By January 1, 2004, states must provide provisional ballots
to any person that declares they are registered and eligible
to vote in a jurisdiction. HAVA contains no definition of
"jurisdiction". In keeping with the definition of NVRA and
because Michigan has a state wide voter list, the jurisdiction
should be the state, at the least it should be a county.
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS (PB)
· Provisional Voter Notification.
Election officials must establish a system to notify voters
who cast a PB, whether it was counted and if not, why. The
Michigan HAVA plan should include a toll-free telephone number
along with an Internet website that PB voters may access to
determine if their ballot was counted or not, the reason why
and what corrective action must be taken.
· Uniform Provisional Balloting System.
The Michigan HAVA plan must ensure a system for providing,
verifying and counting PB's that is uniform throughout the
state and within each polling place.
· Counting of Provisional Ballots
The Michigan HAVA plan should provide for counting any PB cast
for an office for which the voter is eligible to vote. For
example, count a vote for Governor or US Senator, both being
state wide races, even if a vote for local office is not
counted because the voter is in the wrong precinct to vote for
the local office.
· Tracking Process
The Michigan HAVA plan must provide for the development and
implementation of a tracking system that will track and compile
data on the provisional ballot process and its impact.
· Use Provisional Ballot Envelopes.
This envelope can double as a ballot and a voter registration
form in cases where the voter is actually not registered.
Election officials can automatically use the information to
register the voter.
VOTING INFORMATION & EDUCATION
· Target Communities of Color
The Michigan HAVA plan should specifically include information,
education programs, trainings, public service announcements and
literature that directly target, communicate and resonate with
communities of color. Experts and consultants that reflect
these communities should be partnered with and hired to best
ensure effectiveness.
· Target Alternative Language Communities
The Michigan HAVA plan should ensure that any equipment,
education programs, trainings, public service announcements
and literature effectively target, communicate and resonate
with those communities that have limited proficiency in the
English language.
· Educate Ex-Felons & Pre-trial Detainees.
In an effort to dispel the widespread perception that former
felons have forever forfeited their rights to participate in
Michigan's electoral process, the Michigan HAVA plan must
provide for the education and targeted communication of the
ex-felon community, citizens being held pending trial and
those on probation and parole, regarding their voting rights.
· Coordinate With Experts in Target Marketing, Messaging &
Training.
In an effort to effectively communicate and train communities
of color, urban centers, the disabled community and those with
limited English proficiency, experts, personnel and cultural
organizations that reflect these communities must be partnered
with, consulted and hired.
· Coordinate With Cultural & Community Groups
Voter education and awareness efforts should be coordinated
with and lead by organizations and community groups, that have
demonstrated a past commitment to voter education and voter
empowerment efforts.
· Voter's Bill of Rights.
After January 1, 2004, voting information must be posted at
every polling place on election day. That information includes,
but is not limited to:
- a sample of that elections ballot
- instructions on how to vote and how to cast a vote
- instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot
- instructions for mail-in registrants and first time voters
- general information on voting rights under applicable
federal and state laws
- contact information for rights violations
- general language prohibiting fraud and misrepresentation
The Michigan HAVA plan should provide for a Voter's Bill of
Rights which includes, but is not limited to:
- list the right for a voter to replace a spoiled ballot
- list the right to vote for anyone standing in line when
the polls close
- list the right to ask for assistance from polling place
officials
- list the right of adult voters to bring minor children
into the voting booth with them
- list the right to take the bill of rights into the voting
booth with voter
In addition to being posted, the Voter's Bill of Rights should
be mailed to every voter and published in local newspapers.
VOTING SYSTEMS (voting machines)
· Purchase Machines With IRV & Advanced Voting Capability.
The Michigan HAVA plan should require that any voting system
selection, monies spent, purchase/lease agreements entered
into or request for proposals for new voting machines or
technology, be able to accommodate ranked order and cumulative
voting ballots. Equipment should be required to handle:
- vote for one candidate only
(plurality and runoff elections)
- vote for more than one candidate
(at large plurality, limited voting)
- give more than one vote to one or more candidates
(cumulative voting)
- rank candidates in order of choice
(instant runoff voting, choice)
· Second Chance Voting.
By January 1, 2006, HAVA requires all voting systems provide
for "second chance" voting. The system must allow voters to
privately and independently:
- verify his/her votes on the ballot
- provide opportunity to correct any error (even replace
ballot if necessary)
- be notified and have the opportunity to correct any
"overvotes" (casting too many votes for one office)
The Michigan HAVA plan should require the informing of the
public that they are in deed entitled to make a second attempt
at voting.
VOTER REGISTRATION
· Uniform and Nondiscriminatory Application.
A state may not accept or process any voter registration
application unless it includes:
- the applicant's driver's license number or the last four
digits of his/her Social Security Number.
If the voter does not have either, the state must assign a
unique number to identify the voter for registration purposes.
This unique number should be provided at no cost to voters.
· Improve Design of Registration Form.
Voter registration forms should be clear in explaining the
option of providing a driver's license number or the last
four of voters Social Security number. The Michigan HAVA
plan should require clear, consistent and user friendly
language and materials be used.
· Election Day Registration.
The Michigan HAVA plan should support election day registration
(EDR). The six states that allow EDR all rank among the top
states in voter participation [Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, Wisconsin, Wyoming]. And EDR reduces the need for
provisional ballots.
STATE WIDE VOTER LISTS
· Lap Top Computers at Polling Place.
The Michigan HAVA plan should provide for a (purchased, leased,
donated, etc.) laptop computer at each polling place enabling
poll workers to verify eligibility of any voter and the location
of that voters polling place.
· Integrated Statewide System.
The Michigan HAVA plan should include any necessary modifica-
tions to ensure that Michigan's statewide voter registration
system provide missing or erroneous data for voter registration
applications. For example, if a registrant provides a name,
and date of birth, but a partial driver's license number, the
system can properly cross reference, correct and verify.
· Voter List Maintenance & Purging.
The Michigan HAVA plan must ensure that eligible voters remain
on the voter lists and not be erroneously removed. The quality
and integrity of the data used to determine ineligibility
(deaths, duplicate identification, etc.) must be the highest,
to include several cross-reference capabilities. Before
purging registration lists, voters must be notified and pro-
vided opportunities to make corrections (just as under NVRA).
· Voter Notification.
When voter information cannot be verified, the Michigan HAVA
plan should require election officials to notify voters in
sufficient time for corrective action prior to the next
election. The corrective process should be assisted and
facilitated by election officials.
PRIV[A]TIZATION & POLL TAXES
· The costs, fees and vehicle access requirements associated with
privatizing the Michigan driver's license process, seriously
and inequitably deprive otherwise eligible voters from obtaining
a driver's license. These barriers are reminiscent of poll taxes
that were historically imposed on primarily southern, poor and
African American voters. The Michigan HAVA plan must ensure that
efforts attempting to adhere to the HAVA requirements, require no
additional fee, surcharges, or costs. The plan must ensure that
it does not endorse or recommend anything that may cause
additional barriers to the voter.
FIRST TIME VOTERS REGISTERED BY MAIL
· Registrations Received via Voter Registration Drives.
The Michigan HAVA plan must clearly recognize that if an
organization conducts a voter registration drive and hand
delivers the resulting forms to a registrar, those are not
registrations "by mail" and the ID requirement does not apply.
· Prevent Selective Enforcement of Voter ID.
A citizen who registers by mail, or who has not previously
voted in a states federal election must present:
- a current and valid photo identification[,] or
- a copy of a:
§ current utility bill
§ bank statement
§ government check
§ paycheck
§ other government document that shows the name and
address of the voter
Voters that do not present ID must be permitted to cast a
provisional ballot. If a first time voter casts his/her
ballot by mail a copy of one of these documents must
accompany the ballot.
[Exemption: The ID requirement does not apply if the voter
is entitled to vote absentee due to military service].
In order to prevent the selective notification and enforcement
of ID requirements and the alternative forms of ID allowed,
the Michigan HAVA plan should:
- recognize that registrants who are verified are exempt
from ID requirements
- ensure all ID requirements and optional forms of ID,
are posted in each polling place
- expand the list of acceptable forms of ID to include,
but not be limited to:
§ Student ID
§ Section 8 rent statements
§ Medicare/Medicaid cards
POLL WORKER TRAINING
· Require Statewide Training and Guide.
The Michigan HAVA plan should require, publish, produce and
distribute a statewide training guide for election officials
and poll workers that is racially inclusive, culturally
sensitive and ensures uniform and nondiscriminatory treatment
of voters throughout the state.
HAVA requires that states put training systems in place for
poll workers and other election officials to ensure uniform
and nondiscriminatory treatment of voters in determining:
- who is offered a provisional ballot
- whose provisional ballots are counted
- how "second chance" voting works
- who may provide assistance to voters in the polling booth
- who is asked for identification at the polls
- what forms of ID are acceptable at the polls
- what forms of ID are acceptable upon registration
- how registration applications are processed and approved
- how voters' names are removed from the list due to
ineligibility or duplication
- how voter education requirements are carried out
STATE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
· States must provide a uniform and nondiscriminatory administra-
tive procedure that allows any person to file a complaint for
violations of the Act.
The Michigan HAVA plan should publish the results of all
complaints brought to the administrative complaint procedure.
Complaints and their resolve should be listed on line, with
links, that the public can search by complaint, date, or topic
of complaint. Strict penalties and sanctions should be outlined
for any one who has violated the law.
Other Contacts:
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
info@migreens.org
posted to web 29 July 2003