Network partners gear up for election day
Throughout this election season, Midwest Democracy Network state and national partner organizations have been busy pushing for transparent campaign contributions, informing voters about their election rights and offering information regarding candidates in each state. Read highlights below about political reform and civic participation efforts in the run-up to this November’s elections. Did we miss something? Do you have more news to share? Please email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we will circulate!
RESEARCH/REPORTING
Illinois
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform released a list detailing the top 30 campaign contributors in Illinois donated more than $30 million total.
“Small contributors can make a difference in some election campaigns, but big contributors make a BIG difference,” said Cynthia Canary, Director of ICPR. “Because contributors help influence policy and laws, the public should pay attention not only to what candidates say but also to the sources of funds that help them carry their messages to voters.”
Legislative leaders have also contributed to 63 percent of the top 20 legislative races in Illinois, ICPR reported.
ICPR is also working to explain the judicial retention election process and help identify the source of campaign money in Illinois after the retention campaign of Justice Tom Killbride became the most expensive in Illinois’ history.
Visit ICPR’s blog “The Race Is On” for updates on campaign donation updates.
Michigan
The Michigan Campaign Finance Network has released several reports regarding campaign donations and ad spending.
Lansing lobbyists reported spending $17.8 million in the first seven months of 2010 and Michigan’s major party congressional candidates reported raising $7.5 million in the period from July 15 through Sept. 30.
Visit MCFN’s archives for a complete list of Campaign 2010 coverage.
Ohio
Ohio Citizen Action is currently in research mode and released their report “Contributions to Candidates for Justice of Ohio Supreme Court from January 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010.”
The report lists the total amount of contributions each candidate received, a breakdown of each candidate’s contributors and from what top three sectors the contributions were donated.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign released an online database, “Hijacking Campaign 2010,” as a public guide to independent expenditures and issue ads during the campaign. Voters can also use the “Hijack Hotline” to let the WCD know who is running issue ads or independent expenditures.
They also offer a database of campaign contributors to candidates for state office in Wisconsin from contributions of $100 or more. Voters can look up contributions from political action committees and other campaign committees to candidates for the Wisconsin Legislature as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state school superintendent and state Supreme Court justices in their “PAC Contributions” database.
VOTER EDUCATION
- CHANGE Illinois!
- The League of Women Voters Michigan
- League of Women Voters Minnesota
- League of Women Voters Ohio
- League of Women Voters Wisconsin
- Asian American Justice Center
Tools
The Campaign Finance Institute will update tables on its website with a running total of reported money spent in House and Senate races.
Users can sort data in the tables on a variety of fields, such as party independent expenditures, non-party independent expenditures, total amount spent by non-candidate entities for each race, district, party, and race type.
Forums
On Oct. 27, the Brennan Center presented a webinar on challenges to the 2010 vote for the media. The presentation is updated from an Oct. 13 briefing at the National Press Club.
On Nov. 8 Change Illinois! will hold a meeting on election contributions by legislative leaders.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is also speaking at local forums in an effort on raising public awareness on corporate spending in the upcoming fall elections.
Asian American Institute is working to get out the vote in the West Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago up until Nov. 2.
Take Action Minnesota is concentrating on seven sites (The Twin Cities metro area, Mille Lacs, Fond du Lac, Bois Forte, Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake Nation) throughout the state focusing on areas with a higher concentration of Native American population with its “Get out the Native Vote” program. The group is also targeting African American and St. Paul’s Hmong communities. Currently, the group has gathered signatures of over 800 newly registered voters. The goal of the programs is to gather information on what issues the groups care about by issuing surveys and start a research program targeting specific issues relating to the survey results after the elections. A message will also be created to launch campaigns after the election. Executive Director Dan McGrath said reception for the program has been positive, with residents in each community committing to going out and being heard.
TAM recently held a public event in St. Paul, MN in the Hmong community focused on educating the public on local issues and voter information was a success with over 250 local residents attending.
Take Action Minnesota is working on confronting Minnesota Majority cynical effort to undermine the election process.
ELECTION PROTECTION
Common Cause Minnesota, the League of Women Voters Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota and Civic Engagement Table launched a hotline to help voters with questions and to ensure that all voters know their rights. Volunteers will be available to assist voters from today through Election Day by calling 1-866-OUR-VOTE toll-free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, the hotline will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for voters with any last minute questions or issues that may arise at polling areas.
“Election Protection is needed now more than ever,” said Mike Dean, Executive Director of Common Cause Minnesota. “The 2008 election in Minnesota underscores the need for voters to be prepared and to know their rights. Election Protection will continue to guide voters through the voting process, helping to ensure that that all eligible voters have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”
League of Women Voters Wisconsin is reminding voters to check out their “Know Your Rights, Be Prepared, and Vote!” flier before heading to the polls.
