- Home ::
- About the YEO Network ::
- Events ::
- Upcoming Events
- Past Events
- 2006 Host Committee Planning Meeting - Washington, DC
- 2006 NAACP Civil Rights Training
- 2006 YEO National Convening
- 2007 National Convening
- 2008 YEO National Convening
- Constitution Day 2006
- Convening Agenda and Access Presentation
- NCSL 2008
- YEO Campaign Managers Roundtable - Hoboken, NJ
- YEO Economic Development Policy Academy
- News ::
- Resources ::
- YEO Interactive ::
- Contact Us
April 2009 Newsletter
 |
|||||
|
APRIL 2009
|
|||||
|
Equality Legislation Across the Country Preparations for the 2010 Census are already underway, and the federal government is determining how to best count every individual living within the United States and its territories, both citizens and non-citizens. It is incredibly important that the Census Bureau achieve an accurate count of everyone within our borders, as money and political power are directly affected. The numbers taken from the census are used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to draw boundaries for congressional, state, and local legislative districts. It also determines the distribution of $300 billion annually in federal funds for critical community services. As such, this directly affects you, your power to govern, and your constituents. As New York’s demographer, Joseph Salvo, said: “A community that doesn’t respond to the census doesn’t exist.”
As mentioned, the census count serves to apportion political power and draw the boundaries for legislative districts. Once those districts are determined, eligible voters residing within them choose who governs them. The strength of our democracy, however, depends on free and fair access to the polls to choose our leaders. Many of our young elected officials are working diligently in their communities to protect our elections so that every vote is counted and every voice is heard.
|
|
||||
|
YEO Teleconference Series:
Friday, May 8, 2009
RSVP to lmorris@pfaw.org To order "The Progressive Revolution", please click here.
|
|||||
|
As a citizen, I had always felt it was my responsibility to learn about my elected officials, and to engage with them when I believed my voice needed to be heard. Five years ago, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that same-sex couples were entitled to the full rights, benefits, and responsibilities of the institution of civil marriage. Immediately, there was an attempt to amend the state constitution to block the issuance of marriage certificates. Thus began my journey seeking elected office.
|
|||||
|
This is the last week to register! Come join others like you who are young, progressive, and elected. The YEO National Convenings are the largest gatherings of young progressive elected leaders in the country- and this year’s is no exception! The 2009 YEO Network National Convening is June 12-14, 2009. Register now for this amazing opportunity to meet, network, and learn from other YEOs from across the country. YEO Network members attend the conference at minimum cost – with convening fees, meals and accommodations paid for. And for those in need of travel assistance, travel scholarships are available.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at rsimon@pfaw.org.
|
|||||
|
People For the American Way Connection:
|
|||||
|
Progressive Policy Corner) Clean Elections The Clean Elections Act is designed to curtail the influence of private money in state politics, increase the diversity of candidates and elected officials. Arizona’s Clean Elections Act establishes a campaign finance system where candidates for state elective office can voluntarily accept full public funding for their campaigns. In exchange for public funding, candidates must reject all private campaign contributions and obey spending limits. Read more. Fair Elections The Humboldt County Ordinance to Protect Our Right to Fair Elections and Local Democracy passed by ballot initiative in 2006. The initiative strengthens local democracy by prohibiting non-local corporations, unions, and non-profits from making contributions to Humboldt County Elections. It ensures that local residents decide who represents them in local government and that elected officials are free to represent all county residents without fear of intimidation from non-local corporations. Read more.
|
|||||
|
©2008 Young Elected Officials Network To unsubscribe from our email list, please click here and write "unsubscribe" as your text. |
|||||
This is an incredibly important issue for YEOs; the decennial census affects your community and your constituents. It is, therefore, imperative, that issues surrounding both the census and redistricting are discussed and understood. We are providing a resource center of some of the foremost census and redistricting research from organizations concerned with ensuring an accurate count in 2010.
Oregon State Representative Ben Cannon is working hard to bring about election reform in the state of Oregon. Rep. Cannon is sponsoring legislation that would allow voters in Oregon to register to vote online by the 2010 election cycle; additionally he is co-sponsoring legislation that will make Oregon the 5th state in the union to ratify a move that will award its Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote. “For Oregon to join this interstate compact would move the nation one step closer to making sure every vote counts in presidential elections,” he said. “This compact would establish fairness in our presidential election by creating an incentive for presidential candidates to compete for the votes of all Americans.” 
Texas State Representative Marc Veasey recently gave an impassioned speech regarding proposed legislation that would create new voter ID requirements for Texas voters. If passed, the bill would require Texas voters to present one form of photo ID or two-forms of non-photo ID to cast a regular ballot. At a public hearing on the proposal, Rep. Veasey said, "This is a racial issue, make no mistake about. Can you really sleep with yourself at night knowing that if this bill is passed, that most of the people that would be denied the right to vote are going to be black, brown and poor?" 
Maine State Senator Justin Alfond is sponsoring legislation that would allow communities in Maine to choose to allow non-U.S. citizens to vote in municipal elections. Sen. Alfond says that there are a variety of legal Maine residents who are not citizens. He believes that allowing that part of the community to vote would be inclusive, and would give more people a voice. It also would give them an incentive to become citizens. 
Washington State Representative Marko Liias introduced legislation that would establish a judicial election reform act to introduce a pilot project providing public funding for Washington state Supreme Court candidates. The public financing would be available to candidates who demonstrate public support and voluntarily accept strict fund raising and spending limits. 
Virginia State Delegate David Englin has proposed legislation to remove Virginia’s blanket ban on all political attire at polling places. Englin said that his bill will distinguish between outright campaigning and simply wearing clothes with political messages on them. He has called the current ban absurd and a violation of constitutional free speech protections. “In terms of a long-term solution, it’s much better to clarify the issue through the [state] code rather than something that gets litigated in court,” Englin said. 
Oklahoma State Senator Kenneth Corn is proposing a Senate bill that will allow Oklahoma voters to register in person on Election Day. “I think we should remove the obstacles,” Rep. Corn said. It is believed the bill will help increase the number of those likely to vote, as well as increase turnout in high profile elections. 
"Why I ran for office"
This month, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), perhaps our country’s most successful and significant civil rights legislation, by a Texas utility district. The Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 (NAMUDNO) argued that it was exempt from obtaining federal pre-clearance for changes to its election procedures as required by Section 5 of the VRA because they contend the provision is unconstitutional. In May of 2008, a three-judge District Court in Washington, D.C. unanimously rejected NAMUDNO’s argument that it was exempt from Section 5 of the VRA, and the Supreme Court granted cert in January.
