Call to Action: November 12, 2018
RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS
Americans place a high value on free and fair elections. Yet, since Obama’s 2008 win, Republicans – fearful of high turnouts of young and minority voters – have built barriers to the ballot box. For this year’s elections, independent monitors found “voter suppression more widespread, intense, and brazen” than in any election they have studied.
In conservative-controlled states, Republicans have worked to restrict voting access by:
- Purging millions from voter rolls
- Requiring strict voter ID
- Demanding “exact matched signatures”
- Reducing polling locations and the number of voting machines
- Limiting early voting days
To date, researchers have found voter suppression cuts only 1 to 2% from the total ballots cast. But in close races, just a fraction of 1% can swing elections.
The most dangerous outcome is that voter suppression, groundless allegations of voter fraud or claims of “stolen” elections erodes the public’s confidence in elected leaders. This was exactly the goal of Russia’s interference in 2016.
Republicans are doing Putin’s work for him.
We must work to remove barriers to voting and demand election protections. A good start is Senator Ron Wyden’s bill (PAVE Act) to require paper ballots and audits nationwide.
2020 Starts Now!
Restore Confidence In The Vote!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. Most Americans still have faith in elections. But voter suppression and baseless allegations of voter fraud are undermining that faith. If confidence isn’t restored in elections, we will lose faith in elected leaders. We must fight allegations of voter fraud and go after the real barriers of voter suppression. Please ask the Senator to do all he can to pass the PAVE Act (S. 3049/H.R. 6093), proposal for paper ballots and audits. Thank you.”
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. Most Americans still have faith in elections. But voter suppression and baseless allegations of voter fraud are undermining that faith. If confidence isn’t restored in elections, we will lose faith in elected leaders like Greg Walden. Surely he agrees we must fight unfounded allegations of voter fraud and go after the real barriers leading to voter suppression. Until he speaks out for protecting this fundamental democratic process, he will remain complicit with Trump’s work to undermine the US Constitution and historical patriotic norms. Please ask Mr. Walden to do all he can to pass the PAVE Act (S. 3049/H.R. 6093), proposal for paper ballots and audits. Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: JOIN THE RESISTANCE AND FIGHT FOR AMERICA**
We have built an infrastructure to fight for our values. Come work with the region’s most active group of Resisters at ORD2 – Indivisible. Check out the opportunities for volunteers on our website: ord2indivisible.org. If you have a few hours or only one, whether you’re a joiner or want to work from home, Indivisible has a need and a job for you. Don’t sit back and mope – activate your activism. Don’t have any regrets after the next election – no Trump hangover. Become an active citizen again. It’s our job to save democracy. 2020 Starts Now!
