Thank you for all the hard work you're doing to get candidates you support elected, whether on the local, state or federal level.
Are you by any chance feeling disturbed, knowing that as hard as you're working, and as clear as it is that Democrats have a ton of momentum this election year, it's still possible that through dirty tricks such as voter disenfranchisement and even manipulation of electronic voting machines the election results will not reflect the will of the voters?
This year, there may be situations all over the country where CANDIDATES must Stand For Voters, must rise up and challenge elections. You know, the way John Kerry DIDN'T do in 2004. In some situations, candidates are the ONLY people who have the legal standing to initiate recounts or mount other legal challenges.
NOW is the time to prepare candidates for this crucial role.
They ask us to stand for them with our volunteer time, our dollars, and our votes. Now, through this project, we're asking candidates to Stand For Voters! Here's where you come in: Help us get the word out to candidates by asking them to take the
Standing For Voters Pledge. Visit our website for a
card you can download and give to them, and for
suggestions about how to get the message to the candidates you support. Then, once they sign on, challenge their opponents to take the pledge as well!
The Standing For Voters site contains resources designed especially for candidates, to teach them about issues of election integrity and about the various types of election challenges. Examples of recent candidate-initiated challenges are there, too, along with a list of the candidates who have pledged so far. Come check it out, and then ask the candidates you're working for to come by as well!
The Standing For Voters Pledge
I, _________________, pledge to use my candidacy, whenever feasible, to advance the preservation of democracy. I will officially challenge the results of the election as provided by law if the combination of election conditions, incident reports, and announced election results calls into question the reliability of the official vote count. Should another candidate be declared the winner in my race, I will wait until all valid votes are counted and all serious challenges resolved before conceding defeat.At our site, we also have a stronger
"Super Pledge." So far, every candidate who has signed has signed on has chosen to sign the Super Pledge.
The candidates I've spoken to so far have been thrilled at this opportunity to show that they care about the integrity of our elections. Once they sign on, they're given an emblem they can post on their website, use on campaign materials, etc. (Here's an
example of how it looks on one candidate's website.)
If you want to participate and would rather work with others in gathering pledges than work alone, please PM me.