Dear ROPnetters,
The Voter Registration Deadline is fast approaching – Oct. 16th is just a few days away. In this message, Rural Organizing Project shares some election year reflections and ballot basics for new and long term voters.
This is one in a series of emails including content from ROP’s STAND Voter Guide. Read and download the full STAND Voter Guide online here.
Our STAND Voter Guide email newsletter series includes:
- A Different Way to Look at This Year’s Election and Election Nuts and Bolts
- Thinking Through Today’s Dilemmas for a Better Tomorrow – If Democracy is to Work, Ballot Measure Analysis and more
- Take a STAND for Democracy All Year Round – Reclaim Our Democracy and Get Big Money Out of Politics
- STAND Guia Electoral – Latino Power in Elections 2012, Myths of Citizenship, If You Can’t Vote
Forward this message to friends, family and your human dignity group email listserve and let’s make sure everyone has the info they need to make informed decisions and cast their ballots this year!
Warmly, Cara
PS- Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming STAND emails – look for “STAND” in the subject line. All emails are formatted to make it easy to forward onto your contacts and listserves.
——————————————————————————
A Different Way to Look at This Year’s Election
Elections are a time when we try to put our values into action by voting for issues and candidates that represent the true needs of our communities – but
sometimes it can feel like candidates and campaigns aren’t really working for the best interests of the people.
Big banks are bringing in record profits while households face mountains of debt. Congress spends billions on wars, but says that we can’t afford to keep post offices open. Instead of finding solutions to our economic woes, some people get scapegoated. To top it off, millions of people are being kicked off the voter rolls, mostly in swing states. It is no surprise that only 17% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing.
We can do better than this.
We can join together as a people to create a government with policies based on our common dreams. We can build communities that guarantee for every child a good education, for every senior support they need as they age, and for every person access to healthcare.
We know that one election won’t fix this. We know that there are a lot of politicians working for their campaign donors and not the people they represent. But we also know that a democracy can only exist if we use our democratic rights: the right to vote; the right to have a government of, by and for the people; the right to be represented by the people who have our best interests in mind.
The Rural Organizing Project’s STAND Voter Guide explores how the issues we will be voting on this year impact democracy. It also shares strategies to look beyond the election cycle to reclaim our democracy. Our vote is a great tool for exercising our voice, but in these times we need more than just one tool to get the job done. Click here for more.
———————————
Still not registered to vote? If this is your first time voting in Oregon, you have until October 16th to register!
Did you move? If you have a new address, register to vote as soon as possible so that your ballot arrives to the right place.
To register to vote or to update your current registration:
Complete the voter registration form online at www.oregonvotes.org or a paper form that can be found at the county election office, post offices, the DMV, or most public buildings.
You may register to vote in Oregon if:
– You are a resident of Oregon.
– You are a United States citizen.
– You will be 18 years old by Election Day, Nov. 6th, 2012.
Oregon requires a Driver’s License, DMV ID, or Social Security number to register to vote. If you are registering by mail, include a copy of either a valid photo ID, paycheck stub, utility bill, bank statement, or government document.
If you have a felony conviction, you can vote in Oregon as soon as you are released from prison or jail, even if you are still on parole.
———————
Ballot Basics:
Who represents you?
– Two US Senators represent Oregon in Washington D.C.
– One US Congressperson represents your region in Oregon in Washington D.C.
– Five US Congresspeople represent Oregon in Washington D.C.
– In Salem, you have one State Senator and one State Representative based on where you live.
– You have numerous other local elected officials that represent you in city, county, and state governments.
———————-
What is ROP?
The Rural Organizing Project is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. ROP works to advance democracy in all 36 of Oregon’s counties. ROP’s mission is to “strengthen the skills, resources, and vision of primary leadership in local autonomous human dignity groups with the goal of keeping such groups a vibrant source for a just democracy.”
Stay up to date with ROP! Email us your contact information at office@rop.org or call us at 503-543-8417.
-- Cara Shufelt- cara@rop.org Rural Organizing Project PO Box 1350 Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-8417 * www.rop.org