AUW/MUUSJA Voting Rights Working Group
The top priority of the Voting Rights group is to encourage UUs to take a leadership role nationally in promoting constructive election reform legislation in 2009.   In support of that goal, we are focused on preparing for two programs on elections issues to be presented at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly (GA) national meeting in Salt Lake City, June 24-28.  If you plan to attend GA, please let us know.  Please also help us connect with GA attendees from other congregations who might be interested in partnering with us on elections issues.
 
We are offering a program at GA featuring Utah election official, Bruce Funk, and New York UU election activist, Teresa Hommel, who were included in the documentary, UNCOUNTED, that we premiered last year. Our first GA program 'Does Touchscreen Voting Violate the 5th Principle?" will feature Utah County Clerk Bruce Funk who learned firsthand how corporate control of voting systems threatens our democracy.  Bruce diligently evaluated state-imposed touch-screen systems, revealing vulnerabilities deemed major national security risks by computer security experts.  Learn how this "whistle-blower" was ousted from elected office - and ways to ensure fair, accurate elections.
 
We will also partner with the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness in their program on democracy issues featuring the two UU Secretaries of State Mark Ritchie of Minnesota (and First Universalist) and Debra Bowen of California.
 
Our next planning meetings are scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 1-3 pm and April 11, 1-3pm in the Library at First Universalist.  FFI: Jenny Jewell Thomas jjt@jjthomas.net or Carol Johnson 612-825-3322.

AUW/MUUSJA Voting Rights 2010

The AUW/MUUSJA Voting Rights working group remains committed to two key objectives: To protect the right and access to voting for all citizens, and to ensure that all votes cast are counted and reported accurately. Initiatives this past year have included events with local, state and national impact:

• April: We hosted an event with our partners at the MN Voting Rights Coalition featuring the facts about proposals to require registered voters to provide a Photo ID before voting at the polls.

• April-June: To document the incidence of ineligible voting and convictions for voter fraud in MN, Carol Johnson conducted a survey of MN County Attorneys with our partner www.CEIMN.org. No one collects or reports this critical information currently.

• June:  We hosted a program at the UUA General Assembly on same-day voter registration, which helped UUs from across the country learn from Minnesota's success with election-day voter registration.  Since 1974 it has helped Minnesota achieve the nation's highest voter turnout.

• July-November: We are currently helping prepare the report on our Spring survey of County Attorneys regarding ineligible voting and recommendations for policy. We expect it to be published before the next MN legislative session.

• November 2 election: We urge all AUW members and friends to vote, to remind others to vote and to participate in Get Out the Vote activities in their communities.

• Post election: We invite all to participate as citizen observers of the post-election audit organized by our partners at CEIMN. Sign up online: www.ceimn.org/2010-mn-audit/sign-up-observe.

View an update on other Voting Rights activities!

GOALS

• Expand Our Planning Group to Add Other MUUSJA Congregations
• Building ritual for our meetings to ground our work on UU spirituality
• Follow up on existing contacts and new; send letters, follow up with personal phone calls
• Implement General Assembly Resolution – partner with Communities of Color
• Educational programs – give congregations first-hand understanding of issues in voting for people of color; build on last year’s workshops providing insights on racism
• Model programs in MUUSJA that could be used in PSD and nationally – establish local and national contacts
• Partner with groups to address local issues of voting for People of Color
• Priorities for 2008 Minnesota legislative session – partner with CEIMN and LWVMN
• Audit Bill – support efforts to pass a statistically significant model for manual audits
• Registration Bill – support SoS efforts to pass a bill facilitating registration 
• Activities: network with MUUSJA contacts in problem districts, as needed, with things such as educational events, letter writing campaigns and citizen lobbying
• Priorities for 2007/2008 Federal legislation – partner with CEIMN
• Support effective bills – strengthen and pass House and Senate versions of Holt or something better (widespread confirmation of vulnerabilities is leading to state action)
• Activities: network with MUUSJA contacts in problem districts, as needed, with things such as educational events, letter writing campaigns and citizen lobbying; partner with targeted states for state action, as needed
• Election 2008 – partner with CEIMN and LWVMN
• Candidate Questions – support efforts to ask all candidates for Federal office to declare their commitment to election integrity (we hope to partner with the LWVMN); post results on CEIMN website. Activities: network with MUUSJA contacts in problem districts,as needed, with things such as educational events and citizen participation in candidate forums
• Audit Observers – help recruit and train audit observers statewide. Activities: network with MUUSJA contacts, especially in problem districts, to recruit volunteers
• Registration Drive – evaluate needs of new voters; consider campaign based on 150th anniversary of UUs in MN (e.g., 150 people commit to registering 150 voters) Activities: TBD 
• Election Protection – consider collaboration with existing groups. Activities: TBD; consider national witness events in Twin Cities 9/08 
• Explore building traditions commemorating key dates such as ratification of the 19th Amendment on Aug 18, 1920 (sex), 15th Amendment on Feb 3, 1870 (race), Election Day in November, etc.
• Explore partnership opportunities with the Network of Spiritual Progressives
• UUA General Assembly Resolution Regarding the Report on Racism