This is an historic election year. No matter what happens in November,
it is amazing how many new people have been brought into the political process.
The excitement is electrfying as folks gear up to get that vote out.
But what happens on November 5th? No matter which side you're on, you'll wake up
either overjoyed or desperately unhappy. Perhaps with a hangover from either celebrating or
drowning your sorrows. You'll reach for your mouse and refresh MLN, or dKos, or Firedoglake -
but then you remember - it's all over. No more gaffes to analyze or obsess over. No more
doors to knock or phones to call. No more polls! At least for a few years. |
At this juncture, you will have a choice. You can forget about politics until the
gubenatorial starts to heat up. You can concentrate on other things - Work, family, holiday shopping!
Pie!
OR you can roll up your sleeves, knowing that the work is only beginning.
No matter who wins the Presidency this November, no matter who is control of Congress, there is
still so much work to be done. The voting process in the United States needs help. There
are still people who are disenfranchised when it comes to casting a vote. Particularly the poor, who
tend to move around a lot, and the elderly or disabled, for whom it is difficult to get out and about.
Can you make a commitment to activism between presidential years? Can we keep the activism going between campaigns?
I hope so, because democracy needs help. This is not work that produces constant excitement or glamour. There is less of the "In the trenches
comradery" of high stakes campaigns. Nonetheless, it is important, and it can untimately be very fulfilling.
On September 16th, there will be a forum on Election Day Registration at Dwight Chapel, at Yale.
Election Day Registration is one way to greatly increase voter turn out, and makes it much easier for
the poor and infirm to vote. In states with EDR, voter turnout increases by an average of 10 - 15%.
If we can keep the activist excitement from this campaign year going, EDR can be a real possiblity in
Connecticut next year. Please come and listen to friends and legislators discuss EDR and how we can
get it passed in Connecticut. Bring friends! Take a break from the campaign trail to take part in an effort
that will continue after November, for as long as it takes for election reform to come to Connecticut. |
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