The News Junkie

"It is really a burden on the right to vote in terms of slowing things down, in terms of confusion."

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:38:33 -0400

“It is really a burden on the right to vote in terms of slowing things down, in terms of confusion.”

- U.S. District Court Judge Paul D. Borman on Friday in a preliminary ruling about requiring citizenship checkboxes on the November voter ballot applications. A written ruling is expected Tuesday.

Here’s what voters had to say before the ruling:

“It makes no sense. In order for me to vote and receive a registered voter’s card, I have to be a U.S. citizen and have already passed other checks. So for them to do an additional check, I don’t think is necessary at all,” said Tremiko Thweatt, a financier from Detroit.

“If you are voting it should be assumed that you are a citizen. I haven’t heard of people who weren’t citizens trying to go out and vote,” said Christian Black, a non-partisan 20-year-old Wayne State University student. Black says it is a problem that it has come to the level of asking people their legal status on an election voting application.

“If you already have to show ID, there is no reason you should have to check off a box saying whether you are a U.S. citizen or not. I think that voting should be open to everyone who is allowed to vote; there should be no detriments or anything that stands in their way or intimidates them from voting,” said Dr. Danielle McGuire, assistant professor of history at Wayne State University.

“So all of these measures that are being proposed around the country to have strict voter ID laws or to ask people about their citizenship, I think are efforts reminiscent of post-reconstruction era that work to disenfranchise legitimate voters in order to maintain power for certain parties. I don’t think it’s ethical, I think it’s wrong,” continued McGuire.

“I think we should always lean towards accepting more voters and working on the back end to root out any fraud if it really does exist, which evidence shows it does not,” said McGuire.

(via 2012swingstates)

Wayne State University students respond to the presidential debate

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:38:22 -0400

2012swingstates:

By Nicholas Pizana for The 12

President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney are both eager to draw in undecided voters as Nov. 6 draws closer.

Wednesday’s debate gave both candidates the opportunity to discuss their views on domestic issues. Students at Wayne State University in Detroit chimed in after it with their reactions to the night’s performances.

“President Obama was a bit passive…Romney definitely was more aggressive,” said student Henry Mills. Although he felt Romney had a better stage presence, he wasn’t convinced that the candidate offered any solid explanations of his policy.

“I think he flat out lied about a majority of the things he said, and I think that took Obama a little bit off pace. Usually I wouldn’t think someone would go into a debate where they had a proven record of what they stand for, and then out right deny it… and then when Romney was asked ‘What are you going to do?’ He was pretty vague.”

Read More

"The ability to vote exists as one of our most cherished constitutional rights. We need to exercise..."

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:43:54 -0400

“The ability to vote exists as one of our most cherished constitutional rights. We need to exercise our right to vote and make sure it continues to be the lifeblood of our democracy.”

- Toine Murphy of the NAACP, speaking Tuesday at Wayne State University in Michigan during a Rock the Vote voter registration drive.

The visit was part of Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s 20-city tour of public universities and community colleges to get students registered.

“Make a difference, make a decision and be a part of our democracy,” Johnson said.

(via 2012swingstates)

Michigan's officials to challenge "citizenship box" in court

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:43:13 -0400

Michigan's officials to challenge "citizenship box" in court :

2012swingstates:

On Friday, Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and civil rights organizations will present their case opposing the “citizenship box” that will appear on ballots in the upcoming election.

Voters will either have to check a box stating they are a U.S. citizen or hear a statement that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote from a poll worker. But civil rights organizations say individuals must already be citizens to vote. The practice was first enforced during the primaries, where the question caused delays and even turned away voters.

So far, Michigan is the only state that will include this question on the election ballot.

"Michigan is just so critical. I mean there are just a handful of states that really, literally will..."

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:21:39 -0400

“Michigan is just so critical. I mean there are just a handful of states that really, literally will determine the direction and the trajectory of America… for a long time.”

- Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan to Michigan volunteers Saturday, via conference call, as they prepared to rally support.

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, campaigned in three western Michigan cities over the weekend. Biden spoke at campaign offices in Grand Rapids and Battle Creek and students at Kalamazoo College.

“Joe and Barack have our backs, and it’s time that we have their backs,” Biden said at her campaign stop in Grand Rapids.

(via 2012swingstates)

2012swingstates: Question: Does spending more money on the 2012...

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:44:03 -0400

2012swingstates:

Question: Does spending more money on the 2012 elections equal a better race? Let The 12 know what you think.

source2012:

ANALYSIS: 2012 election will cost $5.8 BILLION — our most expensive yet | OpenSecrets.org

The 2012 presidential and congressional elections will be the most expensive on record, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics estimates. The Center predicts, based on data from 18 months of fundraising and spending, that the elections will cost $5.8 billion, an increase of 7 percent from the 2008 cost of $5.4 billion.

So far overall in the first 18 months of the 2012 cycle, $2.2 billion has been spent, compared with $2.4 billion in 2008.

The presidential race by itself will cost about $2.5 billion, the Center predicts, in funds laid out by the candidates, Democratic and Republican party committees and outside spending groups.

WHEN I GOT MY BALLOT MAILED TO MY COLLEGE ADDRESS

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:13:02 -0400

whatshouldwecallearlyvoting:

WHEN I GOT MY BALLOT MAILED TO MY COLLEGE ADDRESS

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:12:06 -0400

whatshouldwecallearlyvoting:

mtvpowerof12: Voting laws can get confusing but no worries- we...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:11:07 -0400

mtvpowerof12:

Voting laws can get confusing but no worries- we got your back. We’re training you in the art of democratic self-defense with our new voter guide.

So, no excuses. Vote like a champ.

Election fraud case shut down while it still was being investigated

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:31:31 -0400

Election fraud case shut down while it still was being investigated:

2012swingstates:

The Grand Rapids election fraud investigation was closed as a “mutual decision” between Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth and the State Police. No criminal laws were broken by State Rep. Roy Schmidt (R) or House Speaker Jase Bolger (R) in an attempt to pay a Democrat to run in the race. The “Democrat” had no intention of campaigning.

The Office of Secretary of State is conducting a separate investigation regarding possible campaign finance law violations.

2012swingstates: “Mitt”en. Get it?

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:04:09 -0400

2012swingstates:

“Mitt”en. Get it?

"They acted above the law, as if it didn’t apply to them"

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:59:16 -0400

“They acted above the law, as if it didn’t apply to them”

- Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette about four former staffers for former U.S. Rep.Thaddeus McCotter (R).

The staffers were charged with falsifying election petitions and are charged with misdemeanors, including election law forgery, conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner and falsely signing a nominating petition.

Schuette said the same cut/paste method and forging of signatures could have occurred during the petition for the 2008 election.

McCotter, who resigned in July in light of the scandal, has not been linked to the fraud and was not charged.

(via 2012swingstates)

Newark Mayor Cory Booker to campaign for Obama in Michigan

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:56:31 -0400

2012swingstates:

Cory Booker is here to campaign for Obama: He says: “This president has been the most accessible White House I’ve ever seen.”

— FreepOpinion (@FreepOpinion) August 9, 2012

Booker campaigned in Detroit on Thursday and will host a roundtable in Flint on Friday.

2012swingstates: “Mitt”en. Get it?

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:56:21 -0400

2012swingstates:

“Mitt”en. Get it?

"They acted above the law, as if it didn’t apply to them"

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:31:26 -0400

The 12 | Tumbling the 2012 campaign: Voter Voices from Michigan: Are you better off financially than you were four years ago?

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:53:52 -0400

The 12 | Tumbling the 2012 campaign: Voter Voices from Michigan: Are you better off financially than you were four years ago? :

2012swingstates:

Would you say you, yourself are better off financially than you were when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?

“I’m about in the same shape financially now as I was before he became president,” said Carinna Dennis. a Wayne State University…

Ruling on too-small type could derail 7 ballot initiatives

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:48:45 -0400

Ruling on too-small type could derail 7 ballot initiatives:

2012swingstates:

A petition to repeal the state’s emergency manager law and another to strengthen collective-bargaining rights are among the seven Michigan ballot initiatives that could be ruled invalid because of their type size.

A law that has been in place for 47 years requires the wording on petitions to be 14-point type; however, the petitions in question measure closer to a 12-point type.

If the law is upheld, it would prevent the initiatives from being on the Nov. 6 ballot.

New Michigan poll shows Obama back in lead

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:48:27 -0400

New Michigan poll shows Obama back in lead:

2012swingstates:

President Obama leads Romney in Michigan, 48-42, in a poll released Wednesday by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA. The poll of 600 likely voters was conducted in late July.

In June, an EPIC-MRA poll showed Romney leading Obama 46-45.

In the past week, Rasmussen Reports and Public Policy Polling showed Obama leading in Michigan, while Mitchell Research had Romney with a one point lead, within the margin of error.

Costly primary to replace Rep. McCotter in Michigan will go forward

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:54:14 -0400

Costly primary to replace Rep. McCotter in Michigan will go forward:

2012swingstates:

A special primary election, which will cost taxpayers $650,000 in Wayne and Oakland counties as well as the communities in the 11th Congressional District, is on for Sept. 5 after none of the five Republican candidates withdrew from the race.

…

By the time the vote is certified, and figuring in the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the person who actually wins the special general election likely will serve for less than a month.

Gary Glenn suspends campaign, backs Clark Durant

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:53:28 -0400

Gary Glenn suspends campaign, backs Clark Durant