Everything you ever wanted to know about the continuing voter registration drive, courtesy of Jeanine Peterson. (More Democrats is the goal, LOTS more Democrats! And it's working!)
Precinct Meeting, October 09, 2007
Present: Bill Timberman, Bob Donahue, Suzann Trout, Jeanine Peterson
Handouts: Minutes from the Yavapai Precinct Leadership Committee Meeting. Book marks with Elections 2008 information from Yavapai County Recorder’s office.
Clarkdale Canvassing 9-15-07. Bill Timberman: Many buildings are still vacant. Many residents were already registered to vote at MVD, but some had not yet changed their registration when they moved. Door hangars were left at homes with no answer, and a list was kept of all contacts and the results.
Registration form: Suzann questioned copying the registration form because of the personal information. Bill explained that all that information is in the public domain so there is no reason to be concerned, but of course we must handle and process the forms and the copies properly. Registration form gives us only certain information and provides a voting record. We do receive a stipend and a way to record our efforts.
Personal contact – to walk the precincts is most effective. Bill volunteered to help those of us who need help in our precincts. In Clarkdale, they help each other work different areas.
VAN (Voter Activation Network) Bill reviewed for us. He has access to VAN. They want to maintain a balance of security with the preservation of privacy. The question is raised about how to get updates and to whom they should be sent. Chris Brill is Data Base Manager and VAN Coordinator. Dick Searle of DORR is on the committee and maintains the spread sheets.
State Party: bought lists of unregistered voters and were to have audited it for errors. We must just walk our neighborhoods and compare addresses and names and when canvass note the errors, then turn this in. Bill provided the following information.
“Subject: Results of a Spot Survey of Unregistered Voter Data Accuracy From VAN (Excerpted portions of letter From Richard Searle of DORR to Chris Brill)
This effort started out to just provide corrections to VAN unregistered voter data for a portion of the Jacks Canyon Precinct of Sedona. But, the results were also rather interesting relative to the quality and accuracy of the data itself.
Fran McWherter and Phyllis Martinec of the Jacks Canyon Precinct set out to check the status of all the unregistered voter names provided by VAN for a selected group of streets in the Jacks Canyon and attempt to register those who could be contacted and were eligible for registration. VAN lists 236 unregistered voters for the Jacks Canyon Precinct. Thirteen streets were selected from the precinct and VAN provided 52 names for presumed unregistered voters living on those streets.
By various means they were able to establish the status of 48 out of the 52 names provided by VAN. Of the 48 names checked 9 represented individuals who had potential for being registered. Five of these nine were subsequently registered as Democrats and registration forms were provided to three others with unknown results. Note that no Republicans were registered from the group. Of the 39 non eligible individuals their status [was] divided into the following categories:
16 Vote out of state
12 Had Moved elsewhere
2 Persons unknown at address
8 Deceased
1 Non Citizen
What is to be concluded from this rather small sample? Bear in mind that the demographics of this part of Sedona are not typical for Arizona or Yavapai County for that matter. There are at least four observations to be made:
1. If you can find an eligible individual in the data then there is a high possibility he/she will register as a Democrat.
2. Only 20 percent of the names provided had potential for registration.
3. Much of the data was out of date as indicated by 20 out of 48 names represented moved or dead individuals.
4. Sixteen out of the 48 names were of individuals who live part time in Sedona ("Snow Birds") and vote in their "home town". I imagine this situation is more prevalent in Sedona than most other parts of Arizona. (Areas like Tucson have many snow birds and there may be many in the Verde Valley, especially in the various mobile home parks.) JP
As to what corrections to make to the VAN database, we will see what you do. Clearly all those who are ineligible to register should be marked do not contact. If they have moved or died should the records be purged or marked moved/deceased?”
50 State Strategy, Flagstaff. – Bill reported and we reviewed the packet from Yavapai Precinct Leadership Committee Meeting. Consensus was that direct mail and phoning are not effective, especially since so many residents use cell phones. We now know from the Election Integrity Committee that the mail-in ballot is most vulnerable to fraud and errors.
This is what AZ Grassroots Leaders are asked to do:
Recruit at least two new precinct leaders by Jan 1, 2008
Go Door to door on October 20th for an Arizona State Day of Action
Host “One year till Change” House Party on November 17 (to seek more volunteers.)
Participate in a National Day of Action in January
Go door to door in February for an Arizona State Day of Action
Contact 50 assigned voters 3 times in your neighborhood from March 2008 until Election day.
We discussed the competition between the DCCC and the DNC and their differing philosophies. Howard Dean and the DNC’s strategy is to work from grassroots up. DCCC is from the top down. Suzann received a donation letter from DCCC targeting the Cottonwood area. “Democratic Majority Drive”. This could siphon off donations from recipients who are not aware there are different groups seeking funds.
We adjourned to lunch and concluded with a canvassing plan for October 20. Bob Donahue will ask for help from Virginia Chanda and one other to walk in Cornville.
Bill, Jeanine and Suzann will walk in Suzann’s mobile home park on 89A. Planning session on Monday 10/15 at 10 a.m.
Events/Meetings
Oct 20 – AZ State Day of Action – Cottonwood and Cornville
Oct 21 – DOVV Board Meeting, Pine Shadows Club House 2 P.M.
Oct 25th – DOVV General Membership Meeting – “ 5:30 P.M.
Nov 6th – Precinct Leaders Committee Meeting in Prescott 1 P.M.
Nov 13th – Verde Valley Precinct Meeting at Cottonwood Library 10 A.M.
Nov 17th – Host “One Year till Change” House Party in Verde Valley (details later)
Nov 25th – DOVV Board Meeting * (1 week later than usual re: Thanksgiving)
Nov 29th – DOVV General Meeting * (1 week later than usual re: Thanksgiving)
Any questions or corrections of significance, please let me know.
Review
of AZ Democratic State Meeting - Saturday, August 11, Prescott: Those we
know who attended: Voting PC’s - Mike Cosentino, Pat George, Esy Fields and
Alma Lawler. Dem guests Bill Timberman, Jan Graham, Jeanine Peterson and Frank
Henry. Agendas and caucus literature were passed out at our local PC
Meeting.
Excerpts
from EIC Minutes:
Attorney Bill Risner described the lawsuit that has been filed over whether
political parties may review databases of the voting from previous
elections. The Arizona Secretary of State’s office in their refutation
contends that there is a statute that requires that they not turn over the data. A
deposition was filed August 2, 2007 with Joe Kanefield, State Election’s
Director, about how data is handled in Arizona.
Randall
Holmes spoke on the progress of H.R. 811. The bill has been marked up in the
House Committee on Administration. (A vendor influenced committee with 4 Bush
Appointees) The Election Integrity community is divided on whether to support
this bill or not. The bill is now called the Hoyer-Holt compromise. (To be distributed by
e-mail. (H.R. 811 is supposed to plug holes in voting problems by mandating
audits.)
Jeanine’s
Notes: This very active group here and in other states has challenged a
Regional Transportation vote and is investigating results and procedures in
Tucson. EIC and attorneys are pressing for increased voting security. The
Democratic Party is the first
and only group to ever audit the
Pima County elections Department. That is the role of political parties. The
Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Secretary of State has never audited the activity of
its own division. In fact, the Pima County Board of Supervisors has strongly
opposed EIC’s efforts to examine voting data. Depositions revealed a pattern of
violations of criminal laws that this group brought to the attention of the
AG’s office. The
London Times
heard of this and contacted the EIC.
California
Secretary of State
Debra Bowen has emerged a leader in top to bottom investigations and actions.
Decertification/Recertification Decisions (Voting Machine Vendors) issued
8/3/07 by SoS Bowen http://www.sos.ca.gov/electons/elections_vsrhtm
Auditor
John R. Brakey,
Special Task Force Leader of AZ Dem Party EIC and Co- Founder; Americans United
for Democracy, Integrity and Transparency in Elections – AUDIT-AZ AUDITAZ@cox.net .
The
EIC is preparing a manual and training procedures for poll workers. Their goal
is to have a Democrat at every polling place who will know statutory rights and
have access to lawyers in disputed incidents. Regional training will begin
soon. They will build a data base of poll workers. Their investigations have
shown that the most vulnerable places are rural areas.
WATCH "THE TROUBLE WITH TOUCH SCREENS"ONLINE! (DAN RATHER REPORT)
Arizona
State Federation of Women Caucus: Each area with Democratic Women’s groups
reported on their activities. Yavapai described their vital “Issues Committee”.
Esy and Jeanine reported on the fledgling Democratic Women of
Verde Valley
and how it is sponsoring precinct work. The Next Federation meeting will
be in Albuquerque.
Progressive
Caucus: Major
protest on the process for State Chair Election. They will submit a By-law
proposal covering this issue. Resolutions proposed for impeachments.
Other
Caucus’s – No
attendee reports available as yet.
Local
Precinct Work Reports and plans:
Ruth
Wicks: Mingus
HS
will respond to her offer of providing a registration table on Freshman/Parent
Night Tuesday
8/28 at
6:30 PM and Senior/Junior Parent Night on Wednesday, 10/17. Volunteers will be
needed. Seniors must be 18 by the time of primary or general election. We need
a script for those nights.
Clarkdale/Mountain
Gate
Canvassing planned for Saturday, 9/15. Contact: Linda Key (614)
560-9045. Ruth reminds us to note changes and errors in the voter lists, copy
and send to Yavapai County so they can update the Voter
Activation Network data
base.
Carol
Slagle
turned in her first registration at Pine Shadows. She has received approval to
post a notice in the Pine Shadows Bulletin that she will assist in Voter
Registrations there. Other DOVV residents there will be asked to help. Carol
brought a demo tape of a local musician with contemporary non-partisan songs.
Possible entertainer for DOVV/DORR picnic.
Registration
drives future: Senior residential sites - Cottonwood Village, Verde Manor,
Christian Care, and Tuzigoot. Riverfront Ribs event. Contact Coordinator Betsy
Fader betsy@dovv.org
We can plan to attend any event we have volunteers for.
Alma: Larger Precincts
should be divided into small groups and meetings offered.
Announcements
of events and future meetings; and call for items for silent auctions.
DOVV
Programs/local fund raising. Esy: Suggested we plan for an exclusive special
event inviting representatives from EIC for an interactive program. Discussions
will follow as to the venue. Carol suggested DOVV Yard Sale. Jan Graham offered
ideas about other social events.
We
voted to renew our reservation for the use of the Cottonwood
Library Conference room, and for the DWVV to continue sponsoring the Precinct work.
Newspaper description will be Democratic Precinct Meeting -“Blue Tuesdays”.Mark your calendar and
join us the second Tuesday of each month. Next: 9/11/07 -10 AM
Check
out Democrats
of Verde Valley web
site for news and events: www.dovv.org
Esy
Fields – Alma Lawler – Jeanine Peterson –
Ruth Wicks – Carol Cody – gemcc@mindspring.com
Precinct Meeting, July 10, 2007
Round table discussions:
Present: Jeanine Peterson, Dallas Sanger, Alma Lawyer, Virginia. Chanda, Shirley Isaacson, Beverly Smith, Robert Donahue, Esy Fields, Ruth Wicks, Linda Key, Pam Gerst.
Handouts: Issue newsletter from County Dem Women, extra registration forms and issues collected from last DOVV meeting.
Ideas: Cottonwood 2 still needs 3 more PC's. Calls made, no return. Request for anyone here who might know Dems who live there we can call.
Shirley Isaacson: Verde Village newsletter blurbs, and possible registration table at their next general meeting/social.
Registrations: Ruth Wicks: Yavapai College Campus registration up date. School helps furnish items and nice location for use in registration. Ruth is collecting names for more regular dates. Contact her if you can spare a couple of hours. Especially as students begin next session. Dallas, Bill, Ruth, Carol and Bob worked at College and at Clarkdale park on July 4th.
Farmer's Market: Betsy and volunteers, more to participate. Esy and Alma to work on Thursday 12th. This will be a weekly event until end of produce season. Anyone who can do registrations table times, contact Betsy Fader the coordinator betsy@dovv.org
Suzann Trout canvassed her Mobile Home Park.
Cornville events: Bob Donahue and Ginny Chanda planning to cover registrations at Cornville Market. Mt. Gate: Linda Key is already working on this large area of residents.
Bob Donahue to plan for Mingus HS registration event. DOVV has tent available for areas with no shade. Betsy, Ruth or Bill has signs. (As folks get used to seeing us around the area, they may come back to register.)
Review of registration form and reminder of status of Independents or other parties, that they must re-register to participate in Presidential primaries. There still seems to be some confusion about this.
Esy Fields: 15 registrations to turn in for credit. We agreed the $45 and more to come will go for DOVV office. She showed us the "Door Knockers" to hang on people's doors as we canvas. Need more. She will also have printed up a business card with "DOVV" and a space for canvassers to put their names when they leave literature, including brochures from county. Esy handed out maps.
Copy your completed registration forms and turn in to Esy Fields. We get $3.00 each from State Dems.
Announcements:
August 11, State Dem meeting; Saturday 9 - 6 pm at Yavapai College in Prescott. Car pool planned.
August 19, County Dems Picnic Watson Lake Park, upper Ramada
September 17, Truman-Clinton Banquet. Other meetings of DORR and DOVV announced.
Esy asked how we want to continue to conduct these meetings and it was agreed to keep it informal. We had good input and sharing.
Post meeting idea: Have flyers, handouts everywhere at all times about our DOVV, and meeting/event dates. We could have these at registration tables just for those Dems who stop to chat and maybe membership forms.
Some of us went to lunch at Casa Bonita's. Bring a friend or neighbor. Hope to see you at our next -
DORR Breakfast meeting: Third Thursday, July 19, 8:30 am at Kings Ransom Motel
DOVV meeting, July 26th at Pine Shadows club house, 5:30 pm
Precinct meeting, second Tuesday, August 14, 10 am at Cottonwood library.
Mark your calendars and check out our DOVV web site http://www.dovv.org
