Why I'm (not) Voting Republican

Here's hoping I remember how to embed YouTubes properly...

www.ImVotingRepublican.com

Also, register to vote! Just follow the link in the right hand bar!

Election Day Voter Registration in MA: an open letter

I'm writing this blog post today to tell you about an issue that is near and dear to my heart: voter engagement/election day registration.  It isn't really a partisan issue (although you folks aren't really ones to worry about this) but it would make a huge difference in participation levels here in MA.  Minnesota has it and when I met the Secretary of State who started it there this past summer, he convinced me of the value it provides.  There's no evidence of voter fraud with it, only increased chances to promote an active democracy.  Just think about it.  College students across MA could register day of election to cast ballots, without needing to think ahead and ask for an absentee ballot. 

For the Harvard specific benefits, think about the benefits this could bring on a local level too.  Imagine having city councilors beholden to the student vote who wanted to help make sure Felipes was open past 2am.  Think about progressive student votes coming in in more conservative towns across MA like Olin College in Needham or the ladies of Wellesley.

I want you sign this petition to help move it forward, the bill promoting this is at a critical point in the approval process.  The governor has already said he would sign it, and so all it needs is to pass the legislature.  Sign here.

An easy way to register to vote!

Voter registration rocks, yes? Yes. Well, now there is a new way for us to register ourselves and our friends: www.harvarddems.com.

Yes, friends, the logo that says register to vote is indeed an application that helps you register to vote! Fill it out online, print it, and mail it in! Granted, it would be awesome to be able to do it all online, but at least we're one one step closer.

If you just want to email a link to a friend, feel free to use this stand-alone one: http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/register/?api_key=zDg_txrqH1Y2mIWXZ7ivn2UjaQg

Voter registration is important, for reasons both partisan and non. Voter registration is civic engagement and a sign of a healthy democracy. Voter registration is how your team wins. Voter registration rocks. Register a friend. Double your democracy. Democracy thanks you.

Another old video...

I couldn't help posting this:

I stumbled across it while writing my paper...which I should get back to...

An iPod for your vote?

From the land of i-banks and Olsen twins, the NYU newspaper, Washington Square News, has a story about a poll they did about what students would want in return for giving up their right to vote in the next presidential election. 20% said they'd drop their right to vote for an iPod Touch. 66% for a free ride to NYU (aka $188,532). In exchange for never voting again, HALF of students said that it would cost only one million dollars. So lets say that the average age of respondents was 20. Assuming they'll live till 80, that's 60 years of voting. Even if they only vote every 4 years, thats 15 presidential elections, or only 66k dollars per election.

Interestingly, 90% of students who would give up their vote for money also called voting "very important" or at least "somewhat important." Personally, I'd like the crosstabs on this, but maybe I'm just a nerd.  Then again, I just want you to vote, f*cker!

Election Day Registration rocks my world.

So I've been talking about my summer as a PolitiCorps fellow to basically anyone who asks, but a large achievement of ours was registering 1,500 people to vote.  We got to meet with the State Secretary of Minnesota which has election day registration (EDR) and hearing his stories made me swoon.  The idea that people could register to vote and cast their vote on the same day is an activists dreamland.  

We can make that happen in Massachusetts.  EDR is in committee right now, and it needs to be pulled out and passed.  To quote Blue Mass Group: "It's easy, however, to do something about it. You can write to your Rep via Act for Change, or you can click here and find your Rep's or Senator's info."

Let's make this happen here.  Sign the petition with a friend.  Turn to each other and say "Democracy thanks you."  Because, believe me, it does. 

Not Good.