LWV MASON COUNTY MEETING 4/17/12

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Amy Davis Mason County Progressive

DEMOCRACY ENDANGERED?

Has Big Money Taken Our Government Hostage?

The League of Women Voters Mason County will hold the Tuesday, April 17th meeting in our usual venue, the Library of Olympic College, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

You will notice that the regular meeting time has been changed to the evening. We hope that League members or guests who work during the day, or who otherwise have schedules that don't permit them to attend the daytime meetings, will be able to be present for this very important program. Given the hour, we will provide finger food for attendees.

Our presenter will be Kim Abel, Co-President of the Washington State LWV.
She will address two very timely issues: Voter Rights and Campaign Finance Reform.

Voter Rights are being challenged in many states all across the country. There has been a recent flood of discriminatory voter ID laws passed in more than a dozen states. The overriding "rationale" for these laws is "voter impersonation". Below you will find an addendum with some of the common myths about voter impersonation.

5 Myths About Voter Impersonation

Myth: Voter impersonation is a widespread problem.
Fact: Between 2002 and 2007, after undertaking a massive investigation into voting irregularities, the U.S. Justice Department did not prosecute a single individual for impersonating another voter at the polls.

Myth: Third-party registration drives contribute to voter impersonation.
Fact: Since 2008,only 31 cases of suspected voter impersonation have been reported to Florida authorities. But due to a restrictive new law there, the League has been forced to suspend its Florida registration activities for the first time in 72 years.

Myth: Everyone either has an ID or can easily obtain one.
Fact: 11 percent of eligible voters, or about 21 million people, don't have updated, state-issued photo IDs. Furthermore, most states require producing a passport or birth certificate to get one. This presents a tremendous burden for people who work multiple jobs, lack transportation, have disabilities, live outside the state where they were born, and who are poor and elderly.

Myth: Election Day registration invites voter impersonation.
Fact: An investigation by the Secretary of State in Maine - which was the first state to adopt Election Day registration - did not find evidence of voting irregularities due to same-day registration.

Myth: Early voting increases voter impersonation.
Fact: Incidents of impersonation in early voting are just as rare as they are in Election Day balloting. A CBS News report on 17 early voting states revealed no widespread signs of irregularities in the 2008 election.

Campaign Finance Reform has been a cause for some time. What would it look like? How would it work? In light of the enormous sums that are being spent on this up-coming presidential election where it appears that he who has/spends the most money is the winner, this is a very timely issue.

For more information about both Voter Rights and Campaign Finance Reform, go to the national League website: www.lwv.org and do a search for either or both concerns.

Don't forget that our website: www.lwvmasoncounty.org, is being continually up-dated. There you will find the results of our latest study on privatization.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING

Voters Rights and Campaign Finance Reform

with
Kim Abel
Co-President, Washington State LWV
on
Tuesday, April 17th
at
6:00 PM
at
Library at Olympic College, Shelton

Photo: gettyimages.com