Didn't see this out here yet. Apologies if a dupe...
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Dear XXX,
If you were a young voter or an African American voter in Ohio last year, chances are, you were mistreated when you went to the polls.
That's the striking and inescapable conclusion of a very important report released this week by the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute.
I am writing to urge you to act on this report's disturbing findings -- and to support crucial initiatives to make sure there is no repeat of these electoral abuses in 2005 and 2006. Support electoral reform now:
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/votingrights/The Voting Rights Institute report is called Democracy At Risk -- The Ohio Election. Here's what it reveals:
More than 1 in 4 Ohio voters reported problems with voting, including ballot issues and intimidation at polling places.
Illegal identification requirements were improperly imposed. Two out of every three (67%) young persons reported they were asked for ID. Six out of ten African American men reported being asked to show ID.
African Americans reported waiting an average of 52 minutes before voting. That's two and a half times longer than the average 18 minutes reported by voters overall.
But, here's the most troubling finding of all. Nearly one in four Ohio voters indicated that their 2004 voting experiences made them less confident about the reliability of elections in Ohio.
I urge you to act now to restore confidence in the democratic process in Ohio and all across America:
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/votingrights/Barriers to voting are always an insult to the freest, greatest nation in the world. But, they are especially troubling when American soldiers are fighting and dying for freedom half a world away. Our democracy is only as strong as our citizens' faith in it. It is unacceptable that in 2005, Americans are still being denied their most fundamental rights as American citizens.
You and I can't stand by and let what happened in Ohio happen again. Not in Ohio. Not anywhere. Not in 2005 or 2006. Not in any election.
There are three things you can do right now.
Support the Count Every Vote Act
Help put pressure on Congress to pass the Count Every Vote Act. Spread the word that Washington is failing to act on this threat to democracy.
Four months ago, I joined with Senators Boxer, Clinton and Lautenberg to introduce this critical legislation. The Act will not only strengthen voting rights, it will prevent many of the problems that happened in Ohio by giving communities the resources they need to provide enough reliable, verifiable voting machines.
We need your help to wake Washington up to the problems our democracy is facing across the country. In January, I was so proud when 35,000 members of johnkerry.com called Senator Frist and Speaker Hastert to put electoral reform on Congress' radar screen. We need your voices again.
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/votingrights/Join Our Promote and Protect the Vote Team
Let's start organizing at the community level to push for reform of our voting laws and increased voter education. The johnkerry.com community will actively be working over the next months to promote voter education in the 2005 and 2006 elections and to identify important ways in your community to pass legislation and hold local elected officials accountable for protecting and preserving voting rights.
Sign up here if you want to be part of our johnkerry.com Promote and Protect the Vote team.
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/votingrights/We will send you more information in coming weeks about specific ways you can help -- especially as we prepare for the 2005 elections.
Help Spread the Word
Enlist your friends and neighbors to help us make American democracy stronger. Send them a copy of this email. Send them a copy of this groundbreaking report.
Sign them up to help us spread the word that we won't rest quietly while rights and freedoms are being denied to American citizens.
Forty years ago, in August 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed by President Johnson. It was a landmark, bi-partisan bill that allowed millions of Americans a true voice in our democracy.
Forty years later, American troops are putting their lives on the line every day in the name of democracy. We owe it to them -- and we owe it to ourselves -- to grow and strengthen democracy and voting rights for all Americans.
Thank you for your commitment and dedication to making America stronger. Let's make every vote count in 2005.
John Kerry
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