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Update on No Stolen Election Work
ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
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UPDATE FROM UFPJ ON OUR WORK WITH THE NO STOLEN ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN
UFPJ helped build the No Stolen Elections campaign from the end of
September through November. The campaign built a broad coalition of
national organizations and networks and a grass roots emergency response
network of more than 20,000 to coordinate and evaluate information about
the fairness of the presidential vote, and to help coordinate protests in
the event of a stolen election.
Through a fairly extensive process of research and consultation with many
voter protection groups (including People for the American Way,
Rainbow/Push, Southwest Voters, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center,
and This Time We Are Watching), the campaign collectively concluded that
the vote was not at all fair, because of a combination of unfair rules,
fraud and intimidation. At the same time, it is not clear that the illegal
elements of this unfairness (or straight incompetence or technical
malfunction) actually decided the presidential outcome. UFPJ supports calls
to investigate the vote and we are pleased to see that the GAO will pursue
an investigation. We also believe that every vote must still be counted and
fully support the efforts underway to make sure this happens. While there
may never be proof that this election was stolen, we know there is work to
be done to ensure greater safeguards are in place in future elections.
Such campaigns, investigations, lawsuits, and protests are ongoing. In the
immediate future, the No Stolen Elections campaign will monitor the
important issues that have emerged in the aftermath of the Nov. 2nd
election. But United for Peace and Justice's
limited resources and the escalation of the war in Iraq make it impossible
for us to remain as active in the No Stolen Elections campaign.
We encourage you to remain vigilant in the struggle to protect the right to
vote and to guarantee that every vote is counted. We support the calls to
action on these issues and we will do our best to keep our web site updated
with new information and links to important resources. Below is the latest
statement from the No Stolen Elections campaign and it includes information
on how you can stay involved in this work.
Finally, we hope you will use the calendar on the UFPJ website to list the
activities of your group, and to find out what's going on in your city or
state.
in peace and solidarity,
Bob Wing and Lisa Fithian, National Co-Chairs, UFPJ
Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, UFPJ
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FROM: No Stolen Elections! www.Nov3.US
"We have been following developments very closely and are deeply disturbed
by the extensive and credible reports of fraud in the election. We call
for a full review of the conduct of the election and the tallying
of election results . . . . We cannot accept this result as legitimate
because it does not meet international standards and because there has not
been an investigation of the numerous and credible reports of fraud and
abuse." U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, 11/23/2004.
Report: OBSTACLES TO DEMOCRACY:
www.Nov3.US/obstacles
Action: VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS:
www.Nov3.US/billofrights
Support: OHIO RECOUNT: www.VoteCobb.org
Dear Sisters & Brothers,
Success. Your efforts spurred fourteen members of Congress, led by Rep.
John Conyers of Michigan, to request a Goverment Accountability Office
(GAO) investigation of the 2004 presidential election. Earlier this week,
the GAO announced that it will
investigate "the security and accuracy of voting technologies, distribution
and allocation of voting machines and counting of provisional ballots."
More success. Thanks to the contributions of thousands of Americans, and
the leadership of the Green and Libertarian presidential nominees, David
Cobb and Michael Badnarik, the pivotal state of Ohio
will begin an election recount in the next several weeks.
We hope these successes are only wetting your appetite for more democracy.
As tens of thousands have taken to the streets of the Ukraine, the great
powers of the East and West have intervened to back their candidates.
Secretary of State Powell has
demanded an investigation of that election. We know that it is not lost on
any of you that here in the United States, there are no contesting outside
powers,
but only the two internal forces of popular democracy and the political
establishment. It is up to us.
As participants in the movement for democracy, your work continues to be
vital. We urge you to prepare for the major events of the coming weeks.
Please go to our newly updated website at http://www.Nov3.US, note the
changes we are making there, and read the newly released report, "Obstacles
to Democracy" at
http://www.Nov3.US/obstacles. And please act now to demand election
reform, and to support the Ohio recount:
1. VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS - Please see the new 11-point "Voter Bill of
Rights" at http://www.Nov3.US/billofrights. Initially drafted in the
aftermath of the stolen
election of 2000, we have updated and improved the Voter Bill of Rights in
response to the failures of the 2004 election. We ask you to circulate this
important document. We also encourage you to approach your members of
Congress to ask them to sign on to the Voter Bill of Rights. Because
Monday, December 13th,
is the day on which the members of the Electoral College will meet in the
capitals of every state, we suggest that you organize delegations to visit
congressional offices on that day.
2. SUPPORT THE RECOUNT - The Ohio recount is moving ahead, fueled by
volunteer power, money, media coverage, and determination. Determination
is not in short supply, and sufficient funds have been raised to cover the
initial costs of the recount, but more
volunteers, money, and above all, media coverage, are needed. To
contribute time and/or money, please visit http://www.votecobb.org/.
Media coverage is also key. You may have read the headlines declaring
"Judge denies request for Ohio recount." You probably read further, and
discovered that in fact the judge only denied the request for a
timely start to the recount, and that the recount itself is still scheduled
for early next month. It's essential that our fellow Americans learn that
an Ohio recount is in the works, and that the presidential
election is far from over. It's vital that public attention is focused on
Ohio as the recount brings to light the systemic flaws which
disenfranchised thousands of Ohioans, and potentially millions of Americans.
You can help shine more light on the Ohio
recount by keeping the heat on the media to report it. Write more letters
to the editor. Call and email newspaper, cable, web, radio, and tv
outlets. Tell them that Ohio, not the Ukraine, is THE story.
3. DEFEND THE OHIO RECOUNT - Bush 2004 Ohio chairman, and erstwhile Ohio
Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell, has already demonstrated some
resistance to conducting a full, timely, and accurate recount of the
Ohio election. Other Ohio election officials have denounced the initiation
of the recount process as "insulting" and "frivolous." Insulting? As of
now,
only they can know. Frivolous? With voting rights and 21 electoral votes
in the balance, hardly.
The current recount timeline looks something
like this: December 6th is the deadline for Ohio Secretary of State
Blackwell to complete certification of the Ohio vote. On the next day,
December 7th, the "winning" ticket must certify its slate of electors. On
December 13th, the members of the Electoral College will meet in the
capitals of every state to cast their
votes. On January 7th, 2005, Congress must decide whether to ratify the
decision of the Electoral College.
Look at those dates, and consider how long a
full recount is likely to take: Five to ten days by most estimates. You
are right to be concerned. And you're not alone. In the course of the
next two weeks we expect thousands of Ohioans to gather in churches,
campuses, and at their state capitol to rally to the defense of their
recount. We'll let you know where and when. And we may ask you to
organize a protest in your own community.
Thank you.
http://www.Nov3.US
NO STOLEN ELECTIONS!
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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
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