ReDeux News: Detroit Voter Registration Deadline!

THIS MONDAY, OCTOBER 5 2009

IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE

NOVEMBER 3 2009 CITY OF DETROIT ELECTION!

(I know it is the fourth election we've had this year...)

 

Make sure that YOU are registered in time!

City of Detroit Elections Department

Check Your Voter Registration in Michigan!

Michigan is one of the states that has a "motor/voter" law, meaning that people can register to vote at the Secretary of State where they can also receive their driver's license or state identification card. Voter registrations are also available at the voter's county or city clerk's office. Tens of thousands of registrations, especially new registrations, may be in jeopardy.

[This article is cross-posted at my progressive political blog: BlackLiberalBoomer...]

Voter registration alert! It has been reported that tens of thousands of people legally eligible to vote have been removed from the rolls in six states: Michigan, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, and Nevada. Some of these states are improperly and illegally using Social Security data for verification purposes; some states are breaking the law by purging voters within 90 days of a federal election. Because voter registration efforts of the Democratic party have resulted in millions of new voters this year, likely Democratic Party voters are disproportionately affected. In some states, for every two new registrations, two voters have been removed from the rolls.

The 2008 Election is only 26 days away. It is incumbent upon all registered voters in the affected states to call their local county or city clerk's office and check their registrations. It is especially important for voters if they have moved recently, have not voted in one or any of the last few elections in their jurisdiction, or are newly registered. It is also important to remember that if you are challenged at the voting booth, that you have the RIGHT to ask for an alternative ballot and sign an affidavit that you are who you say you are and vote anyway.

We know that voter suppression was successfully carried out in previous years, and is being tried again this year. It is going to be even more intense because the party now in power is desperate.  That party is looking not only at the Presidential race, but also the "down-ticket" races of Senators, Congresspeople, judges, etc. If you are a United States Citizen and were duly registered before your state's deadline, you have the RIGHT to vote. Take a couple of hours and make sure that your name is on the rolls, and bring picture I.D. with you on election day. We know that picture I.D. shouldn't have to be required, but it is better to be prepared than to be turned away.

Shameless Plug: please read my husband's blog The "D" Spot...

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12-Step Program for Detroit: Step 2

Welcome to the "2nd Step" of my series of the "12-Step Program for Detroit". With all due respect to all of the wonderful 12-Step Programs, we here in Detroit seem to not be able to "heal ourselves" from recurring addictions to failed leadership and "three steps forward and two steps back".

Step Two of 12-Step programs state that we have to come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. I would like to ask us as Detroiters, in this particular instance, to find that "Power" within ourselves.

Why do we not hold our leaders accountable? Why do we continue to vote into office the same people or dynasties over and over just based on name recognition and nothing else? Why do we not even bother to vote at all in numbers much more than 20% or so?

It is up to us to bring about the change we seek. Talking, grumbling, and blaming others does little good to bring about change. Even with everything we have to do like work, take care of our families, clean out the garage, figure out how to pay $4.25+/gallon for gas, etc., we must also take the time to study, speak up, speak out, and take action to make Detroit the City we want it to be.

Choose just one area where you can help Detroit improve: education, environment, neighborhoods, housing, mentoring, etc. Decide on just one thing you can do this year to make Detroit better.

And while you're at it, please make sure that everyone you know is registered to vote...and then make sure they go to the polls for the next election!

TTY next week!

Shameless Plug for my husband's blog: Read the "D" Spot here...