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Help on monitoring and researching elections...
Margit
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- To: margitjo@xxxxxxx
- Subject: NEW: BBV member's investigation workspace, big document stash
- From: "update@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <update@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 21:21:12 -0800 (PST)
- Reply-to: update@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(Permission to reprint and distribute granted) BBV just uploaded the biggest stash of documents yet! We have also created resources to help you prepare for and monitor the 2006 Election. During Election 2004, we did not have the infrastructure to handle the huge influx of tips and leads coming in from citizens. This time, we have more resources and we are preparing already! The following resources will help you get started NOW to watchdog Election 2006: 1. New online members-only research and investigation area. You can upload your documents, ask for help from other citizens to look at them, get personalized coaching on how to investigate the integrity of your local election, and see thousands of pages of documents that have not been released to the public, and thousands more that have. To visit this new area and see what's there already, go here: http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/discus.cgi This is your workspace area. Log in (or register if you are a first-timer). When you register, you will be able to see and use the "Work Area: Citizen Investigations & Research " (members only) The direct link to it is here: http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/17141/17141.html The direct link to register is here: http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-profile.cgi?action=register 2. Online coaching and mentoring for election activists: The truth is, the amount of knowledge expected of voting activists is intimidating. We decided to make being an activist much easier: You can just log on and ask for the information YOU need. For example, a recent question we had was "I'm meeting with my secretary of state, how can I prepare and what should I say?" Here's the guidance he received. His secretary of state decided to delay purchasing voting machines, for now. http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/73/15514.html Here is the direct link to the 1-on-1 consultation area: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/73/73.html This way, you don't have to learn it all at once. Just ask for what you need, and we'll try to help you. If you have expertise, come here and help others. 3. We have launched a triple protection program for Election 2006. As you know, Black Box Voting focuses on empowering YOU, the voter, to take action. It isn't always easy to know what to do, and the truth is, writing letters or passing legislation won't help Election 2006 very much -- it's already late for that. So what can you do? First, Black Box Voting will not organize you, control you, monitor you or take credit for your achievements. We will not tell you what to do, but we will mentor and provide resources and expertise to help you take charge. There are three things you can do that will make a real difference. In fact, if even a handful of people take these strategies to heart it will make a tremendous difference. The emphasis must be on gathering evidence. Evidence consists of documents, public records, videotapes, and tape recordings. Collecting evidence needs to start NOW, not two days before the election. Each month, Black Box Voting is providing specific ideas for how to gather evidence with documents and videotape. This month, we are asking you to do a public records request to get the expenditures of your local elections division. After you receive this document, we are asking you to make a list of every entity that received a payment. This information is important evidence, and provides clues about what to watch out for in your area. For example, citizens in DuPage County, Illinois have learned that their elections board paid $30,000 to a Republican propaganda specialist. Here is a link to that story: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/15764.html Here is a link to how to request the records: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/6/17103.html This will get you started on collecting documents. There are many kinds of records requests you can ask for. We'll give you more suggestions as time goes on. Here is an interview with Armen Yousoufian, a citizen who was awarded $300,000 in punitive damages when his local county obstructed his records requests. He fought back, and made public records history. http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/9954/9932.html A second way to get documents sounds a bit more comical. However, do take a look at the kinds of documents that can be obtained by "waste archeology" (retrieving documents destined for premature demise in the trash): In Pinellas County Florida, a citizen named Leonard Schmiege found shredded, filled out absentee ballots in the trash. Here is an interview with Leonard: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/9954/10019.html Here are tips for "waste archeology": http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/6/17095.html And more: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/6/17105.html Another way to get important evidence is to videotape. Telling someone what happened doesn't get much done, no matter how dramatic the infraction was. Don't leave home without your camcorder! Here are tips for using your camcorder to protect Election 2006: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/6/15733.html Here is how you can get started this month: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/6/17104.html WHAT WILL THIS EVIDENCE BE USED FOR? - Most important, it will help you foresee problems in time to do something to protect your election. - Also, we find that many elections officials run a tighter ship when they know people are paying attention. Start now, continue all year, and you'll put into action those wise words: "The price of democracy is everlasting vigilance." - If you uncover problems, your evidence will help the media take you seriously and, if necessary, the prosecutors take action. Your evidence can help candidates get recounts and poor election officials get recalled. Take action. There are 10,000 elections jurisdictions in the United States, and no group, coalition, or congressman can do what ordinary citizens everywhere can: Oversee your own elections! We're here to help, mentor, and provide resources should you need it. ================================= Black Box Voting is fighting for your right as a citizen to oversee your own elections. We are a nonpartisan nonprofit group sustained entirely by small citizen donations. Because federal elections take place only every two years, our fund raising challenges are somewhat daunting -- but we've made it so far, and our work has truly made a great difference! If you wish to have an organization like us available to help watchdog elections, donations make that happen. To donate, click here: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/donate.html or mail to: Black Box Voting 330 SW 43rd St. Suite K PMB 547 Renton WA 98055Black Box Voting , To unsubscribe, send an email to: unsubscribe-160264@xxxxxxxxxx with the address: margitjo@xxxxxxx in the subject line.
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