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Minnesota's Senate is about to take up a bill proposing a constitutional amendment to require a photo id. card of all voters -- a textbook case of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Read on and let every adult Minnesotan know your views as soon as possible: every hour counts until the Senate votes, possibly as soon as Thursday, March 22.
A photo id. would prevent many voters from voting: elders, youth, and other non-drivers without driver's licenses or state-issued photo identification cards. Why is this proposal before the Legislature? To reduce the number of voters. This is difficult to say -- we do not reach this conclusion lightly -- yet it's the bald truth. Ostensibly, proponents reason that photo identification would prevent voter fraud.
Yet the incidence of such fraud is so very rare -- 1 instance in millions of votes cast -- that the harm done by rejecting thousands of would-be voters far outweighs any good from it. Physicians' Hippocratic oath applies here: in reforming our democracy, let us "Do No Harm."
What's more, Minnesota's Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, has proposed a much better and cheaper solution: voters who have lost an ID or no longer carry one could have an election official call up their identification from state records, if necessary, at the polling place, via an electronic "poll book." Did we mention that 84,000 Minnesota voters do not carry a photo ID? Those without an ID could have a photo scanned into the database or have their photo taken at the polling place.
“We would not be disenfranchising anybody and we would not be breaking the bank,” Secretary Ritchie has said.
Heartland Democracy proposed another systemic reform in early 2009 -- the implementation of a universal and automatic voter registration system. Such a system would further reduce the already extremely slim chances for voter fraud, willful or inadvertent. To see our report, which was hailed at the time by the Star Tribune's editorial page, former longtime Secretary of State Joan Growe, and New York University's Brennan Center, among others, click here: 21st Century Voter Registration Report.
Our democracy requires a number of significant reforms; voter photo id. at the polls is not one of them. It would dampen, rather than renew, voter participation -- and for no good cause. Let us call it what it is: a cynical, indecent attempt to disenfranchise voters, similar to the old poll tax used to bar voters of fewer means. Let's not erect barriers to participation in democracy; let's dismantle them.
Remember: the Minnesota Senate will vote soon. Inform yourself, tell your kith and kin, and -- most of all -- tell your state senator what you think! Thank you for your consideration.
"Citizenship in a Sound Bite Era" is the topic for this community forum from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Hill Ballroom at Kagin Commons at Macalester College, Tuesday, December 6, 2011 in St. Paul. RSVP at www.worldsavvy.org/events. "Anyone interested in civic engagement, youth development and education" should attend. Panelists will include Minnesota's innovative Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie; Trista Harris, Executive Director of Headwaters Foundation for Justice; Brian Rosenberg, President of Macalester; Jamal Thompson, Director of Education for the National Black MBA Association; and Dana Mortenson, Executive Director of World Savvy. David O'Fallon, President and CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center, will moderate the panel's discussion.
Click on the headline above to reach our full News Blog and a short TEDx talk video on Empowering U -- TEDx Video -- in which Tom Vellenga makes the case for robust civic empowerment programs such as ours. The Blandin Foundation sponsored a conference -- Expanding Opportunity: Economy, Education, and Inclusion -- using the TEDx format. Listen to Tom describe critical challenges to our democracy, our response, and the crucial benefits to our people, our communities, and our economy. Spread the word to others! Make a tax-deductible donation now to help scale up Empowering U to serve more people through our host and partner organizations.
Tonight, Friday, Dec. 3, at 7:00 join a special screening of Casino Jack and the United States of Money, the story of criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Following the screening, stay for a discussion with whistleblower Tom Rodgers. WHERE: Cowles Auditorium in the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota (301 Nineteenth Avenue South, Minneapolis, just north of Riverside Ave.) Common Cause of Minnesota is co-sponsoring the film. This is what Mike Dean of Common Cause had to say: "The film shows how the corruptive role of money in politics is fundamentally undermining our basic principles of democracy." Our current system of funding campaigns allows Big Money from companies, wealthy individuals, and front groups to spend billions of dollars to gain access to decision-makers in government. The documentary demonstrates the real consequences of this system. It helps make clear why the United States of America needs and deserves a truly open and transparent government, as our founders envsisioned. Look for the film's release, and, as always, "Tell Your Friends!"
The movement to renew American democracy lost perhaps one of its most influential champions this week when Larry Hansen passed away in Chicago. The post from which he most recently amazed and delighted reformers and progressives across the nation was his vice presidency at The Joyce Foundation. But his five decades of brilliant, dedicated, humane, and ever-witty public leadership took him from the streets of the civil rights movement to the halls of power in Congress to Walter F. Mondale's presidential bid as well. Larry was an early and regular adviser to Heartland Democracy and to me. He cared enough about our common causes to tell me, candidly, when he thought we were going off in the wrong direction -- a mark of a friend with integrity. He was a mensch's mensch, sparking, aiding, and supporting would-be reformers across the nation with a sensibility that warmed and an intellect that sizzled. Heartland Democracy, the democracy reform movement, and the larger progressive cause have lost one of our lions. We celebrate his life and example, and we mourn his death. Whether you knew him or not, read his world-class obituary and other tributes here on the website of the Midwest Democracy Network, which is just one of his many legacies: MDN on Larry Hansen. Reading it, you will find yourself taking a walk with Larry through the history of justice and democracy these past five decades. He will remain an inspiring example to all of us. -- Tom Vellenga
Please join us every Sunday in October as we lead discussions designed to help participants become savvy, thoughtful, active citizens. Presbyterian Church of the Way in Shoreview, Minnesota is hosting Tom Vellenga and our new Fellow, Phyllis Stenerson, in its adult education program. The sessions run from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. We will investigate the joy and fulfillment of active citizenship, the workings of our political system, and why perfectly sane and reasonable people can hold widely divergent views. These and related topics will aid participants' understanding of the elections this fall. In these discussions, we provide participants with the tools and incentives to examine their values and levels of participation in community, politics, and government. Presbyterian Church of the Way is at 3382 North Lexington Avenue in Shoreview, Minnesota (north of Highway 36). The sessions are part of our core program, Empowering U. Heartland Democracy is a non-partisan, secular, public charity. We work with many types of host organizations, from schools to community forums to houses of worship, throughout our region. Let us know if you would like to explore hosting us at your organization by clicking on the Get Involved button on our website.
On May 23, the Star Tribune published our commentary on election reform: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/. Gov. Pawlenty vetoed an automatic voter registration bill, HF 1053, on May 21. In this commentary, we respond to his veto and explain why election reform, and a 21st century voter registration system in particular, are vital to the legitimacy of our elections. Go to the link above and check it out!
Join us for a conversation about Heartland Democracy's unique mission, good works, and plans at the famous Schneider Drug, Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. Schneider Drug is on the southeastern corner of University Avenue and Bedford Street Southeast in Minneapolis -- 3400 University Avenue SE. For years now, Tom Sengupta, the store's owner, has sponsored community discussions about politics, government, and issues, hearkening back to the days when Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr. grew up listening to his dad's friends talk politics in their drugstore in South Dakota. Space is limited there in the middle of the store, so call Tom at 612-379-7232 to let him know that you are coming.
One of the distinguishing features of Heartland Democracy is its focus on in-person discussions of public issues and values. That's one reason we call ourselves a public engagement group. We're ready to come to your group, now, to present the findings in our 21st Century Voter Registration report and to make the case for a constant re-examination of our respective principles, values, and mind-sets on the challenges of governing ourselves. If you are part of a discussion group in a house of worship, a school or college or university, a professional or social club or association, a book club, or any other gathering where we could join you for one or more discussions, please let us know. We are eager to share our information with you and to learn from your own experiences. We are particularly eager to engage with students from the age of 10 to 25. To learn more, or to start that conversation, please write to Info@HeartlandDemocracy.org. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to joining you.
Lori Sturdevant, a senior columnist and editorial board member at the Twin Cities' Star Tribune, and the esteemed editorial board at the Grand Forks Herald, have recommended and endorsed our report calling for voter registration reforms, 21st Century Voter Registration: Election integrity demands clean and complete voter rolls. Election Reform Project Director Erin Sapp authored the report. Please see other News items and blogs, as well as the report itself, for more information. Click on the following link to see and download the report itself: 21st Century Voter Registration
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