PEG 12th Congressional District
Newsletter #83, Thursday, November 1, 2018
103 weeks down, 5
DAYS
to midterm elections
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Our mission is Equality in Government.
That means we must make an all-out effort to Get out the Vote!
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Things to do that make a difference in
the 2018 midterm elections
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Return Your Completed Absentee Ballot
Vote it all and send it to
your
clerk asap. Must arrive before election day. To find out where to mail or deliver,
click here.
Michigan law allows anyone 60 or older to vote absentee, or those with an interfering religious obligation, or those who
plan
to be absent on Election Day. (The key word here is plan.) The law also allows absentee voting in cases of medical emergency or
in jail awaiting arraignment or trial.
A voter can apply for an absentee ballot up to the Saturday before Election Day at the clerk’s office in your city or township. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 pm on Election Day.
Look at the instructional video here.
THREE PITFALLS TO AVOID WHEN VOTING ABSENTEE:
- Sign the envelope. (Your vote won’t count unless your signature is on the envelope).
- Be sure and use a 71¢ postage or two 50¢ stamps!!!!
- Mail it to the correct address.
Click here
to track the progress of your absentee ballot. If you live in Ann Arbor, you can hand-deliver it to the drop-box at the City Clerk's office, Larcom City Hall,
301 E. Huron St
-- 2nd Floor 24/7.
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If you believe in equality and acceptance, be an informed voter
Click here to get a Washtenaw County Voter Guide with the Blue Wave Sample Ballot indicating which candidates support PEG’s mission of having a government that treats everyone with equality and acceptance. Voter guides for 18 Michigan counties can be viewed and downloaded from
michiganvoterguides.org. Please share with your friends throughout Michigan. This year you will not have to call friends for guidance.
Vote and Vote the full ballot. Don’t forget the non-partisan candidates for Michigan Supreme Court--Sam Bagenstos and Megan Cavanaugh.
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Help the Washtenaw County Democratic Party distribute its Voter Guides
Many dozen of volunteers have already distributed thousands of them in the past few days. While the outpouring of volunteers for this effort has been incredible, we are distributing 55,000 guides and we need help, particularly in Manchester, Saline, and Chelsea. If you are able to help out with distribution in these areas, please call or text Jennifer Fairfield at 734-476-7093 or by email at
[email protected]
.
Distribute Voter Guides in Ypsi Turf
Assistance is also needed on the east side of the county, particularly in Ypsilanti city, Ypsilanti Township and Pittsfield Township. If you can help out with distribution in these areas, contact
[email protected]
and put VOTER GUIDES in the subject line.
Adam Cecil, cell: 734-351-3379 (text is probably best) is coordinating distribution in Ypsilanti. Tell him Laura Nathan referred you. The voter guides and precinct turfs are at his house. He can help you pick out the route(s) that suit you best.
Lenawee County in the 7th Congressional District could really use some help
They haven’t gotten anywhere near enough responses and this is an important flippable district. Make a difference to help GOTV for Gretchen Driskell. .
Click here
to learn more and sign up.
Be part of Team Dingell Get Out The Vote
Be a part of this historic Midterm election. The most important thing YOU can do to help DEMOCRATS win up and down the ballot this November is knocking doors, making phone calls, and sending text messages to voters. GOTV weekend is Saturday, November 3rd through Tuesday, November 6th.
Click here
for more information and to sign up.
Volunteer for Elissa Slotkin 8th Congressional District campaign
Her race against Michael Bishop is a very close one. Here’s a chance to flip a seat and help get a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
Click here
to see what you can do.
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Volunteer for the Michigan Dems
Join friends, old and new, to talk to voters about issues they care about and ask them to vote for Democrats on November 6. Success in the election depends on you getting involved.
From making calls to knocking doors and everything in between, there are opportunities to volunteer every day in:
- Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County
- Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Wayne County
- Jackson, Michigan City, Jackson County
- Brighton, Livingston County
- Monroe and Lenawee County
To find the many various activities, places and times and to sign up
Click here
.
Friday, November 2. Volunteer with NextGen America
Saturday
, November 3. WCDP Poll Greeter Card Distribution Event
On Election Day, hundreds of volunteer Poll Greeters are needed to hand out slate cards at polling locations all around Washtenaw County. To sign up to be a Poll Greeter, please send an email to
[email protected]
and put POLL GREETER in the subject line. Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center. Learn what’s involved and pick up your cards:
4135 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor
. 9:30 am
Attend a MI-Resistance calling party and
help Michigan Dems take back our state
This week's focus is making calls for the One Campaign to
help candidates win in close elections.
Saturday, November 3. Volunteer with NextGen America
Sunday, November 4. Volunteer with NextGen America
Monday, November 5. Volunteer with NextGen America
Election Day. Tuesday, November 6
Be a poll greeter for Sam Bagenstos and Megan Cavanagh
Be a poll greeter throughout Washtenaw County
See November 3rd event.
Get Out The vote with the One Campaign’s Election Day Events
Get Out The Vote with NextGen America
Help pass Proposal 2 Voters Not Politicians opposing gerrymandering
Voters Not Politicians
needs canvassers who can explain the redistricting proposal that will be on the ballot in November. Newcomers and experienced knockers are all welcome. More information on opportunities including in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti,
Trenton, Flat Rock, Woodhaven, Grosse Ile, Brownstown
are available by
clicking here
.
Text YESON2 to 555-888 to connect with the campaign, or visit votersnotpoliticians.com to volunteer or donate.
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Election Day: Your opportunity to Rebuke GOP Power in Lansing
Gretchen Whitmer is the Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan. She is the first woman to become Democratic Leader in the Michigan Senate, unanimously chosen by her Democratic colleagues. She supports Medicare and Medicaid, the health of the Great Lakes, public education, and improved roads for Michigan.
A vote for Gretchen Whitmer is a vote against the right wing leadership of her opponent, Bill Schuette, Attorney General under Governor Rick Snyder. As Attorney General, Schuette worked against Proposition 2, the voting initiative to end gerrymandering in Michigan. Moreover, he was indifferent to complaints coming from Flint that their water was contaminated until the Water Crisis became too pressing to ignore.
To see Whitmer’s endorsements from unions representing 1,000,000
workers, and from diverse progressive organizations and prominent national and local leaders,
click
here.
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You can also spread the word about the Voter Guides and the election in general using social media. Here are some ideas:
- Add a Facebook frame to your profile picture. To add the frame, go Facebook.com/WashtenawDems, scroll down to the pinned post, and click the "Try it" button.
- Share the Washtenaw County Dems Voter Guide, along with a ton of resources and events by directing folks to the PEG website at www.equalityingov.org.
- Share the link to all 18 Michigan Dems Voter Guides on all your social media platforms and blogs. The link to to share is www.michiganvoterguides.org
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Action: Speak up for immigrant children’s wellbeing by November 6
From Momsrising.org: if your citizenship status is secure, please do this action. The current administration
wants to allow ICE
to hold children in detention indefinitely, and set up and oversee its own family detention centers. Comments on this regulation are due by November 6. To comment: Click the dark blue “Comment Now!” button
on Regulations.gov
. Write your own comment because cut/paste is not counted and submit by November 6. Suggested points include the dignity and well-being of all people, especially vulnerable, migrant children in U.S. government custody, don’t want tax dollars to fund indefinite detention, insufficient oversight and child abuse already reported, no state regulation of facilities,
Flores Agreement
should be upheld to reduce and limit detention of children.
-Momsrising.org
Confused re how to prepare and how to vote in Washtenaw?
Watch videos here
.
Clerk Larry Kestenbaum and
7 Cylinders Studios
have great videos to help you find out....and remember to share them with other voters!
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Share these free, online resources for voters
- Remind your friends and family that this November you will have to vote line by line. In the past, a single mark could automatically count for candidates of a single party, from governor to county commissioner. Now, after court decisions, each candidate must be voted on separately. -clickondetroit.org
- The Michigan Voter Information Center (https://vote.michigan.gov/MVIC) also provides complete information on your own voter registration including where to vote, sample ballots, the status of an absentee ballot, and more.
- www.vote.org enables a user to register, check registration, obtain an absentee ballot, find her polling place, and sign up for reminders.
- Click here for Bridge magazine’s guide to state elections, including fact-driven, data-driven, nonpartisan 2018 issues.
- Secretary of State
- A two-page brochure from the Michigan Secretary of State's office provides a ton of facts about the voting process in an easy-to-use format.
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Follow PEG on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!
Looking for more information?
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Thursday, November 1.
Get Out the Vote Rally with Joe Biden!
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And...even more events!
Be sure to check out the
PEG Calendar on our website for a comprehensive list of activists events happening this week.
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Check out this Comprehensive Volunteer Guide
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Washtenaw County
Friday, November 2
Greater Ann Arbor Phone Bank
Greater Ann Arbor Canvass
Saturday, November 3
WCDP Poll Greeter Card Distribution Event
Poll greeters will distribute a slate card to voters as they enter the polling area. The cards are small enough to be taken into the voting booth for easy reference and they are especially useful for those all-so-important supreme court/judicial races.
Please come and pick up poll greeter cards to be distributed at polling sites around Washtenaw County and get your assignments. This was incredibly popular in 2016 and we hope to expand it by reaching even MORE voters this year. Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center,
4135 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor
. 9:30 am
Greater Ann Arbor Phone Bank and Canvass
Ypsilanti Phone Bank and Canvassing
Phone Banking, Door Knocking
10 am–1 pm, 1–4 pm, 4–7 pm or 10 am–7 pm ($75 stipend available) in the 12th Congressional District. 12th Congressional Democratic Party.
Click here
for more information and to sign up.
Sunday, November 4
Greater Ann Arbor Phone Bank and Canvass
Ypsilanti Phone Bank and Canvassing
Phone Banking, Door Knocking
10 am–1 pm, 1–4 pm, 4–7 pm or 10 am–7 pm ($75 stipend available) in the 12th Congressional District. 12th Congressional Democratic Party.
Click here
for more information and to sign up.
Monday, November 5
Greater Ann Arbor Phone Bank and Canvassing
Ypsilanti Phone Bank and Canvassing
Phone Banking, Door Knocking
10am-1pm, 1-4pm, 4-6pm, 6-9 pm or 10am-9 pm ($75 stipend available) in the 12th Congressional District. 12th Congressional Democratic Party.
Click here
for more information and to sign up.
Monday, November 5
Get Out the Vote concerts
- Zou Zou's Café, 101 N Main St, Chelsea. 7:30 pm
- The Last Word Bar, 301 W Huron St, Ann Arbor. 7:30 pm
Tuesday, November 6 ELECTION DAY
Greater Ann Arbor Phone Bank
Ypsilanti Phone Bank and Canvassing
Phone Banking, Door Knocking
10 am–1 pm, 1–4 pm, 4–6 pm, 6–8 pm or 10 am–9 pm ($75 stipend available) in the 12th Congressional District. 12th Congressional Democratic Party.
Click here
for more information and to sign up.
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Wayne County
Thursday, November 1
Southgate Phone Banking
Southgate Phone Banking
Southgate Canvassing
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Things to Read, Watch and Listen
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Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic Candidate for Governor
“Everyone in Michigan has a right to quality health care, and that means expanding coverage and lowering costs,” says Gretchen Whitmer. She’s proud that as Senate Democratic Leader, she led the effort to expand access to healthcare to more than 680,000 Michiganders through the state’s Medicaid expansion.But she recognizes that we have a long way to go to make health care as comprehensive as needed, and she remains committed to that effort..
“Fix the damn roads,” will be another top priority for Whitmer when she becomes governor. She believes an investment in infrastructure—roads, bridges and water systems are good for all—business, families and the workers who repair them.
“There’s no reason that the state that’s home to 21 percent of the earth’s freshwater should have a community full of people who can’t bathe their children or give them a glass of water at the dinner table,” writes Whitmer who supports the replacement of lead pipes across the state. She blames Schuette for ignoring 15 complaints to his office about Flint water until the scandal exploded in the national media. If she becomes governor, she promises actions which would protect the Great Lakes.
Whitmer stands by the priorities articulated on her
web site
. Above all, she promises to become Detroit’s ““true partner in Lansing,” something they haven’t had for a long time.
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Prop 1: Legalization of Marijuana
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Prop 2: Oppose Gerrymandering
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Prop 3: Reform Michigan's Voting System
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Make a playlist for standing in line election day!
Hold the line on voter suppression by voting and encouraging others to do so
Voter suppression efforts target minorities and are part of a national Republican strategy to tighten access to the ballot,
according to Ari Berman
,
Mother Jones
journalist and author of
Give Us the Ballot.
Since the 2010 elections, bolstered in 2013 by the Supreme Court's
Shelby County v. Holder
ruling, 24 states have new restrictions on voting.
Alabama
now requires a photo ID to cast a ballot.
Ohio
and
Georgia
have enacted "use it or lose it" laws, which strike voters from registration rolls if they have not participated in an election within a prescribed period of time. In Michigan,
issues
arose when an unexpected number of voters turned out in the primary. In Oakland county, some precincts ran out of ballots, triggering long delays. But next week, u
nlike the laws establishing requirements for primary elections, the laws governing general elections require that each county clerk distribute a ballot for every registered voter, no matter what percentage of those is expected to abstain from the election. So, suit up and get in the game.
-NPR & Detroit Free Press
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PEG is a non-partisan volunteer organization whose mission is to assure that our government will treat all Americans with equality and acceptance. We do our work by recruiting, educating and nurturing supporters for worthy organizations, actions and events that reflect our beliefs.
This newsletter contains suggestions to contact your congresspeople. Find their contact information
here
.
To subscribe to this
free
newsletter go to our website by
clicking here
.
To share with your friends and networks, use the sharing buttons at the top of the newsletter or just "forward" from your email!
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Thanks to Newsletter contributors:
Bernie Banet, Carolyn Christopher, Ellen Halter, Leslie McGraw, Richard Gaeth, Constance Cook, Susan Ayer and Chuck Newman
for their help preparing this newsletter. Write us at
[email protected]
if you would like help create our weekly newsletter. It’s fun and no ongoing commitment is required.
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