National Voter Registration Day -- @CelebrateNVRD
According to Fair Vote at The Center for Voting and Democracy, turnout in midterm elections hovers historically at around 40 percent. When only 4 out of 10 eligible voters casts a ballot, we get a Tea Party Congress propped up by billionaires and fringy fundamentalists.
A coalition of organizations including the League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote, Vote Latino, Fair Elections Legal Network and others have come together to make September 23, 2014 National Voter Registration Day.
On September 23, volunteers, celebrities, and organizations from all over the country will "hit the streets” — both out in the field and via media and technology. The goal is to sign up tens of thousands who wouldn’t otherwise be able to vote — an effort unheard of in an “off” election year.
You can help spread the word via social media, get registered yourself, help people in your network register and sign up to volunteer on the 23rd at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org. Then, visit CanIVote.org — even if you think you’re registered, even if you haven’t moved, even if you have your voter registration card. You can even get info on early and absentee voting and get connected directly to the election officer that oversees your district.
If voting matters to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about National Voter Registration Day via social media so that others in your network can get involved too.
TAKE ACTION:
Volunteer and/or spread the word about National Voter Registration Day
MAKE SURE: Can I Vote?
Additional Activism/Resources:
Follow NVRD on Twitter and "like" NVRD on Facebook
Visit: Rock the Vote
Sources/further reading:
Read all the things from Ari Berman’s blog on voting at The Nation
"This May Be The Strongest Voting Rights Decision Since The Justices Hobbled The Voting Rights Act” by Ian Millhiser at Think Progress
"Democrats' Senate strategist: don't let Republicans restrict voting rights” by Paul Lewis at The Guardian
"The State of Voting in 2014” via The Brennan Center For Justice
"Georgia GOPer Complains About Early Voting, Excessive Black Voting” by Daniel Strauss at Talking Points Memo
Hear the segment in context:
Episode #862 "Male dominance as a social disease (Feminism)"
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
Momentum on Overturning #CitizensUnited
You should make sure you're sitting down....Ready?
The Senate did a thing. If that isn’t shocking enough on its own, the thing the Senate did was vote 79 to 18 in favor of advancing a Constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United. Technically, this vote just brings the debate on campaign finance reform and restoring the notion of representative democracy to the floor. But the democrats, lead by Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, are pushing for action right now specifically to make it a campaign issue for the midterm elections that are right around the corner.
Frankly, if the Congress isn’t going to pass any laws in the two weeks left until the end of the term, then I’m all for as much public debate on overturning Citizens United as we can get leading up to November 4th.
So, let’s do what we can to keep the momentum building. Use the link in the show notes to find out how your senators voted, then call, email, write, and tweet to let them know that overturning Citizens United and reigning in campaign spending is an issue you’ll be voting on in just a few weeks. If they voted in favor of the measure, say thank you; you’ll be watching for their leadership on this going forward. If they voted against, encourage them to reconsider as their job depends on a change of heart.
Then give your representatives in the House a call. Every single one of them is up for reelection. Tell them you expect them to match the action in the Senate and introduce, co-sponsor or support companion legislation.
Update!
"Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Clears First Vote in U.S. Senate!” via Americans Against The Tea Party
The bill to overturn Citizens United introduced by Senator Tom Udall, D-NM
Follow-up/new Action!
Use ContactingTheCongress.org to let your representatives know that overturning Citizens United is an issue you are voting on this November.
Sources/additional glimmers of hope:
"Senate Advances Constitutional Fix To Overturn Citizens United” by Sahil Kapur at Talking Points Memo
"Senate moves forward with amendment to the Constitution on elections” by Ramsey Cox at The Hill
"Overturn Citizens United” — a Statement in Support of a Constitutional Amendment from Senator Bernie Sanders
Graphic via USA Action
Hear the segment in context:
Episode #859: "Momentum on our biggest problem (Money in politics)"
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
FreePress.net Fights Against Media Monopolies
BOTL segment excerpt:
From the Free Press petition page:
No one woke up this morning wishing their cable company was bigger or had more control over what they watch and how they get online. But that's the reality we’ll face unless the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission do their jobs and block this merger.
Putting this much power in the hands of one company is dangerous. This deal would lead to less consumer choice, less diversity and much higher cable bills. This is a fight we can win.
Take Action:
SIGN: Petition to Stop the Time Warner/Comcast Merger
Additional Activism: Keep up to date on net neutrality and other important internet freedom issues at Save The Internet Action Page
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: FreePress.net Fights Against Media Monopolies, episode #799 "Rise of the gatekeepers (Net Neutrality)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
Brave New Films
BOTL segment excerpt:
Robert Greenwald revolutionized activist documentary filmmaking when he launched Brave New Films in 2002. Moved by the voter rights abuses in the 2000 election, Greenwald discovered audiences were similarly hungry for in-depth investigations told through personal, relatable stories. You may have seen some of his work without even realizing it; take this opportunity to binge on what you’ve missed.
Take Action:
Watch existing documentary films and shorts, follow on social media and keep up on the latest projects: Brave New Films from Robert Greenwald
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Brave New Films, episode #800 "A parody of itself (Media)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
McCutcheon: Citizen’s United Take Two
BOTL segment excerpt:
Rich, white men rule this country. We can deny it and point out anomalies, but by and large rich, white and male is the trifecta — a winning lottery ticket to a life of ease and power. And as minorities become the majority, women and the LGBTQ community chip away at the millennia-long privilege, and equality gets chiseled into our federal and state constitutions — the Koch brothers & their ilk are doubling down on their efforts to rig the system.
As the governmental accountability nonprofit Common Cause explains on their website: If the Court sides with the plaintiff in McCutcheon v. FEC and overturns aggregate contribution limits, a single individual could spend as much as $3.6 million on a single election -- enough to buy the attention of the President and every single member of Congress.
Take Action:
Take Action on McCutcheon v FEC at the Common Cause website.
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Citizens United, Take Two, episode #811 "The affliction of wealth on people and society (Economics)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich