See Our Star Tribune Op-Ed on Election Reform

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! 

May We Join Your Group's Discussion?

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. 

Newspaper Editorial Boards Endorse Our Voter Registration Report

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

Heartland Democracy Testifies -- and You Can Advocate, Too!

Has the Great Minnesota Recount of 2008 and 2009 gotten your attention?  Are you looking for some innovations and reforms in our election systems?  Don't you agree that this is the year to do it?

Following up on the February release of Heartland Democracy's report calling for innovations and reforms in voter registration -- 21st Century Voter Registration  -- Election Reform Project Director Erin Sapp and I have now testified before three committees of the Minnesota Legislature on bills to implement automatic voter registration.  HF 1053 and its companion measure, SF 660, would authorize the Secretary of State's office to make voter registration automatic for citizens obtaining or renewing their driver's licenses, among other things.  Introduced at the behest of the Office of the Secretary of State after their staff's own careful study, the legislation would eliminate many of the errors in voter registration that have come to light since last November's election.  We were honored to be able to testify along with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie in support of these important and timely bills. 

Automatic voter registration would save money, reduce voter registration errors, improve governmental efficiency, and boost voter registration.  Many studies, including several cited in our own report, have shown that when voter registration rises, voter participation rises as well.  When citizens know that they are registered, and when they realize that they will not have to face long registration lines on election day, they voter in higher numbers, all other things being equal. 

Several House and Senate committees have passed SF 660 and HF 1053.  All the committee votes and insiders at the Legislature point to the Legislature's passage of the legislation. 

Folks, these bills are good, clean, responsible reforms supported by a broad array of political scientists, national studies, non-partisan think tank reports, and our own report:  21st Century Voter Registration.  In other words, "Hello!  What's not to like?"

Heartland Democracy authored a letter to crucial committee leaders cosigned by a group of non-partisan public interest groups and brought together under the Voting Rights Coalition, including the League of Women Voters, the Minnesota state colleges and universities student association, TakeAction Minnesota, Common Cause, and other groups.  We have also provided summaries, evidence, testimony, and talking points to collaborating organizations and interested legislators.

While committee leaders and most legislators have approved this timely and important legislation, and despite all the non-partisan and independent support for it, built upon mounds of data and evidence, some legislators have withheld their support to date.  While it seems probable that the Legislature will pass the measure, Governor Pawlenty's approval remains uncertain, as does the support of Republicans in the Legislature.  We remain hopeful that the bills will attract bipartisan support, as they should. 

Heartland Democracy is confident that in the long run, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin will adopt these critical reforms.  It is a matter of time and education.  As we have said before, these are non-partisan, "good government" reforms with tangible rewards and no risk inherent in them.  When our elected leaders are presented with the facts, when our citizenry and the media bring these facts to bear, and when the public clamor for reform is loud enough, our states will enact such legislation. 

Historically a leader in election reform, the Upper Midwest has the chance to show the rest of the nation the way to the vanguard of innovation once more. 

This is where you come in, Dear Reader.  If you are in Minnesota, please let your House and Senate legislators, Governor Pawlenty, and the House and Senate Republican leaders know that you want to see them act now, to strike while the election reform iron is hot.  Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers.  Author an opinion editorial!  Send word via email and Facebook and Twitter to your friends and family.  Contact the media to suggest a story on this issue. 

If you know of anyone whose voter registration fell prey to a mistake or delay, or who was unable to vote on account of a votre registration snafu, please write to Info@HeartlandDemocracy.org with your account and the appropriate contact information. 

And if you are in Iowa or Wisconsin, know that we're headed your way soon, led by our Board Members, advisers, and volunteers in both states. 

Again, click on the link to our report above to digest its facts and conclusions and marshal your arguments in preparation for your own advocacy.  We are continuing to amass other sources of information on voter registration, too, and we will post them, or link to them, here on our Web site. 

Once more, thank you for your attention, consideration, and support. 

Tom Vellenga