PEG 12th Congressional District
Newsletter #81, Thursday, October 18, 2018
101 weeks down, 3
weeks
to midterm elections
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If you believe in equality and acceptance, be an informed voter
Click here
to get a Washtenaw County sample ballot indicating which candidates support PEG’s mission of having a government that treats everyone with equality and acceptance. Sample ballots for additional counties will be added shortly. This year you will not have call friends for guidance. Vote and Vote the full ballot.
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Events and things to do that can help
with the 2018 midterm elections
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Voting Absentee, Vote at your Leisure..but Vote!
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Absentee voting, an increasing popular choice with voters, alleviates crowding on Election Day.
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. Voters can apply for an absentee ballot up to the Saturday before Election Day at the City or County Clerk’s office. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 pm on Election Day.
Look at the video here.
TWO 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 cents stamp!!!! (or 2 regular US postage stamps)
Some voters worry that their ballot will be rejected if their signature is not identical to the one on their registration card. This is not a valid concern in Michigan, according to Larry Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Clerk and Register of deed. The election board has digitalized copies of drivers’ licenses with their signatures. Also, he notes that “it’’s an urban legend that absentee ballots may not be counted. Every vote is counted.”
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Another terrific video from the Washtenaw County Clerk's office
Click the image below to watch t
his video about absentee voting.
NOTE:
With Republicans having successfully killed straight-ticket voting in Michigan, lines on Election Day will be LOO-OONG! Avoid the lines and vote in your PJs by voting absentee. Besides, you'll be out Getting Out the Vote on Election Day anyway, right?!
RIGHT?!!!
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Proposition 1: Legalization of Marijuana
This is the voting initiative to legalize sale of marijuana in the state of Michigan. The effort was spearheaded by The Marijuana Policy Project, organized to end “marijuana prohibition” on both the state and federal level. Other groups which support this effort include ACLU of Michigan and MI Legalize.
A ten percent tax on the sale of marijuana would fund schools, roads, and local governments. Decriminalization of marijuana would also reduce incarceration. In addition, there are many health benefits for those suffering from pain, nausea, seizures, and insomnia. For more information on the tax and health benefits of legalization of marijuana,
click
here. To read why the
Detroit Free Press
endorses Proposition 1
,
click
here.
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Proposal 2: 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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Proposal 3: Reform Michigan’s voting system
Vote YES on Proposal 3 on the November ballot. It is also known as Promote the Vote and volunteers are needed to talk to as many voters as possible to encourage them to vote YES too. By volunteering you can help remove barriers to our state's elections and enhance election security to make sure every Michigander’s vote counts. Find Events near Ann Arbor below.
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Vote for Megan Cavanagh and Sam Bagenstos
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Vote Sam Bagenstos, a Non-Partisan Candidate, for Michigan Supreme Court
As a Michigander, regardless of your party affiliation, you will want the hardworking and brilliant Sam Bagenstos on the state Supreme Court. He graduated 1st in his class at Harvard Law School, and has clerked for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He has argued lots of cases before the US Supreme Court, including four civil rights cases. He represented the people of Flint, taking their injury case to the Federal Court of appeals and winning! He's the kind of guy and lawyer we want making judgments for us in the Michigan Supreme Court. Vote for him for Michigan Supreme Court on election day.
Vote Megan Cavanagh, Another Non-Partisan Candidate, for Michigan Supreme Court
Cavanagh is a native Michigander you will want to support. She has demonstrated a commitment to equality throughout her career. Endorsed by the Michigan Association for Justice, she's represented diverse clients (non-profits, individuals, and small businesses) before state and federal appellate courts. As Chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan, she's been active in maintaining legal standards throughout the state. Organizations as diverse as the Michigan State AFL-CIO, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), United Auto Workers Union (UAW), and the OCDP Black Caucus have endorsed her.
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Fight big money with big organizing
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Attend a MI-Resistance calling party and
help Michigan Dems take back our state
This week's focus is making calls for Democratic State Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow. She is amazing and she has an excellent chance at flipping a Republican district. Here's her website:
McmorrowForMichigan.com
. We need your help reaching absentee voters.
Click here
to link to a virtual phone bank: You will first need to create an account (Very quick and easy!) and then you can start making calls for her from your own home.
- Thursday, October 18. 418 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti. 6–8 pm
- Monday, October 22. 1320 W. Huron St, Ann Arbor. 6–8 pm
- Tuesday, October 23. 1730 Ivywood Dr., Ann Arbor. 2-4 pm
- Wednesday, October 24. 9211 Huron River Dr, Dexter. 6–8 pm
- Thursday, October 25. 418 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti. 6–8 pm
- Monday, October 29. 1320 W. Huron St, Ann Arbor. 6–8 pm
- Tuesday, October 30. 711 N 4th Ave, Ann Arbor. 2–4 pm
Friday, October 19. Megan Cavanagh for Supreme Court Fundraiser
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Saturday, October 20, Sunday, 21, Saturday 27, Sunday 28, Friday, November 2. Volunteer with NextGen America
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Wednesday, October 24. Dana Nessel for Michigan Attorney General reception
Hosts Eva Feldman, MD, PhD and Scott Roberts JD. Co-host $1,000, Sponsor $500, Friend $250, Guest $100. Personal checks to “Friends of Dana Nessel” or to donate online
click here.
RSVP
here
.
585 Green Rd, Ann Arbor
. 5:30–7 pm
Saturday, October 27. ACLU People Power Second Chances Call Party
Tuesday, October 30. ACLU People Power Ann Arbor canvassing training
Come learn how to canvass, and understand best practices. All levels of experience welcome! AA Main Health Center,
3100 Professional Dr, Ann Arbor
. 6:15–7 pm
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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.
Get out the vote for Gretchen Whitmer
Sign up to pledge to elect Democrats
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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. There are phone banking and canvassing opportunities virtually 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
c
l
i
ck here
.
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The PEG event calendar is provided as a community service to its readers, and is based on information provided by the event sponsors. Inclusion of material does not imply endorsement by PEG.
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Thursday,
October 18. Indivisible Dexter monthly meeting
The lineup so far!
- 7th Congressional District candidate Gretchen Driskell
- Rick Michaels from Dana Nessel's Attorney General campaign
- State Supreme Court candidate Sam Baganstos
- Candidate for County Commission (Ward 2) candidate Sue Shink
- Dexter Board of Education candidate Mara Greatorex
- A representative from Promote the Vote - Ballot proposal 3
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Friday, October 19 Bernie Sanders hosting rally for Gretchen Whitmer
Click here
to get tickets for this FREE event. Share with other activist groups.
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Saturday, October 20.
Indivisible Dexter postcard party
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Saturday, October 20. NAACP YWR Annual Freedom Fund Gala
Online tickets and ads are available now. For more information click
here
, call (734) 678-4136, or email
naacpywr@gmail.com
.
Running for Office - Meet & Greet: 5:30 pm. Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Auditorium,
4800 E. Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor.
6 pm
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Saturday, October 20. Downriver Young Dems meeting
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Saturday, October 20. Ann Arbor Indivisible meeting
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Sunday, October 21 State Rep. Donna Lasinski legislative coffee hour
Monday, October 22. State Rep. Ronnie Peterson Town Hall
Monday, October 22.
Eastern Washtenaw County Dems meeting
Tuesday, October 23. Planned Parenthood - Ann Arbor canvassing training
- Come learn how to canvass!
- Get the time to practice and understand best practices
- All levels of experience welcome!
Washtenaw County Democratic Party debate watch parties
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Friday, October 26. Perspectives on the upcoming Midterm elections
Larry Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County's Clerk and Register of Deeds will be speaking.
Sandwich and salad or vegetarian lunch with coffee and soda at $7 cash or BYO lunch.
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Saturday, October 27. Educator’s Day of election Action
MEA and AFT MI will discuss the candidates to support in election and how to talk to voters about what's at stake in this election, and ask them to commit to vote for candidates who will stand up for public education. Bring smartphones and tablets (fully charged) to gather information.
3502 W Liberty Rd, Ann Arbor
. 9 am–1 pm
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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 in October.
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Candidate volunteer opportunities,
yard signs and campaign material availability
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Portraits in Progressive Activism: Susan Prakken Smith
Our political engagement and commitment to activism is more important than ever. There are many wonderful Michiganders committed to creating positive change, sometimes against daunting odds.
Read about Susan Prakken Smith, current president of Ann Arbor’s chapter of the League of Women Voters and the driving force behind the nonpartisan
Proposal 2,
which would create a nonpartisan commission to redistrict the state, and
Proposal 3,
which would add a set of voting rights to the Michigan Constitution. The
new
special section,
Portraits of Progressive Activists
, is located under the Highlights tab on the PEG website at
http://equalityingov.org/highlights/portraits-of-activists
.
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29 Million Hispanic Americans eligible to vote in November
Uber has joined Lyft in offering rides to voters for the midterm elections
Lyft announced that it will offer half-priced rides to all voters in the US on Election Day. And for under-served communities and those voters with transportation barriers, all rides will be free. Uber announced last Thursday that it's offering free rides to the polls for those people who say transportation barriers are why they don't vote. Let's read more at
CNET
.
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Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare - Vox
Republicans have removed all doubt: When it comes to the federal deficit, the problem is Medicare and Social Security - not their own tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Fresh off the news...
Read more
www.facebook.com
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PEG is on Instagram and Twitter
PEG Facebook posts are driving important discussion online
If you haven't checked out our Facebook page yet, you might consider it. We have daily posts on a variety of topics that either protect or threaten equality in the American government and its people. To the left, you will find one of our recent, popular posts. Check out more on our
Facebook page!
Looking for more information?
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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
info@equalityingov.org
if you would like help create our weekly newsletter. It’s fun and no ongoing commitment is required.
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