Does every vote count in America? Apparently not in the 21st century. This 2006 Sundance Film Festival winner takes a disturbing look at the ways in which the African-American vote has been manipulated and disenfranchised in American elections. From the outrageous maneuvers in Florida in 2000 to the Republican efforts to unseat controversial Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, it's all too clear our "by the people, for the people" democracy is in jeopardy.
Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio (For the really intrigued--102 pgs.) http://www.iwantmyvote.com/lib/downloads/references/house_judiciary/final_status_report.pdf Representative John Conyers, Jr., the Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, asked the Democratic staff to conduct an investigation into irregularities reported in the 2004 Ohio presidential election and to prepare a Status Report concerning the same prior to the Joint Meeting of Congress scheduled for January 6, 2005, to receive and consider the votes of the electoral college for president. The Report includes a brief chronology of the events; summarizes the relevant background law; provides detailed findings (including factual findings and legal analysis); and describes various recommendations for acting on this Report going forward.
Websites
Election Protection: www.ep365.org The nonpartisan Election Protection 365 program is committed to protecting the right to vote and ensuring fair elections. Focusing on historically disenfranchised communities, the Election Protection coalition draws on the expertise, experience, passion, and moral leadership of the civil rights community to make sure every eligible voter is able to cast a vote that will count.
League of Young Voters: www.indyvoter.org The League of Young Voters is a national organization that supports young people who have been shut out of the political process to make politics fun, engaging, relevant, and meaningful.
Project Vote Smart: www.vote-smart.org Project Vote Smart, a citizen's organization, has developed a Voter's Self-Defense System to provide you with the necessary tools to self-govern effectively: abundant, accurate, unbiased and relevant information. As a national library of factual information, Project Vote Smart covers your candidates and elected officials in five basic categories: biographical information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest group ratings.
Rock the Vote: www.rockthevote.com Rock the Vote mobilizes young people to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities.
Movies
So Goes the Nation (Released October 4th, 2006) http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/sogoesthenation/trailer/ A documentary that examines America’s tumultuous electoral process through the eyes of diverse politicians, activists, and voters. The 2004 presidential election between George W. Bush and John Kerry provides the stage, showing how the voting public is manipulated by both parties’ leaders and their political marketing machines. Now showing at the Drexel Gateway Theater, 1550 N High St.
Stealing America: Vote by Vote (2006) http://www.stealingamerica.org/ Documents significant irregularities in the Presidential election of 2004 while underscoring the fact that election fraud and reform are not partisan issues. The film weaves together dramatic behind-the-scenes experiences of poll workers, computer security experts, journalists, politicians, activists and voters of all ages. We hear from those who feel their communities were targeted for intimidation during the election, side by side with descriptions of irregular machine tallies, in which the number of votes tallied don't equal the number of votes cast.
