info cards - need feedback - images actually appear now :.)

[straw_citizen]

http://flickr.com/photos/17355361@N00

These two images will print on the front and back of most 3" x 2" business cards. This is the first, and we (kamqute and I) thought we'd link to it here to obtain feedback.

kamqute will be printing on actual business cards, and I will be using copy paper and a papercutter. We will be leaving them anywhere we go. Suggestions for more links for the front are welcome. Though the focus was initially on election/voting-related information sources, we may also create other sets of data for the same purpose also using mix and match fronts and backs.

As for feedback our concerns regard font, size, readibility, places to leave them, etc.

On the front, "ballot evidence" is used because it's unlikely those two words will be erradicated from any legal dictionary. Paper trail means nothing legally and something legal must take it's place. Attention is drawn to certain words on the back because not all are in a legal dictionary, and because so many people don't seem to understand how they fit into current events definitionally.

Also, I began captioning links for website use and ran out of time so I could finish something else. Captions are unncessary for the cards though, so listed below are those we came up with so far.

http://www.lionsgrip.com/voting2004map10.html
https://voteprotect.org/index.php?display=EIRMapNation
Maps for locating voting irregularities.

http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/ohiostatusrept...
Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio (102 pages)

http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/electionobject...

http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/correspondence...

http://holt.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=5996 Don't fall for it as it is. Each point is addressed respectively:

http://www.chuckherrin.com/hackthevoteFAQ.htm
Wishlist from an IT auditor.

http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/cstb/project_evoting_...
FYI: The National Research Council is part of the National Academies, which also comprise the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine. They are private, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology and health policy advice under a congressional charter. Read this whitepaper as objectively as possible. Compare to HAVA and the Rush Holt bill and be careful what you take to heart.

http://www.fec.gov/pages/ecworks.htm
How The Electoral College Works

http://www.notablesoftware.com/evote.html
The Mercuri method

http://avirubin.com/vote/analysis/index.html
Analysis of an Electronic Voting System

http://www.australianpolitics.com/voting/systems
Voting Systems – Australian method

http://www.fvap.gov/links/statelinks.html
Secretaries of State and/or Directors of Elections

http://uscountvotes.org
A group of independent mathematicians and statisticians has formed a new, volunteer scientific research project to objectively investigate the accuracy of elections in America.

http://www.gregpalast.com

http://www.ecotalk.org

http://dream.sims.berkeley.edu/~jhall/nqb2/index.php?ca...

http://www.eff.org/Activism/E-voting/#info-sheets

http://www.appliedresearch.us

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/cbc106

http://www.blackboxvoting.com

http://www.breakfornews.com

http://www.caseohio.org

http://www.chuckherrin.com/hackthevotedemo.htm

http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/research/elec...

http://www.commondreams.org

http://www.counterpunch.org

http://www.democracynow.org

http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Election_C...

http://www.dogskinreport.com

http://www.freepress.org

http://www.gnn.tv/articles/article.php?id=1038

http://www.gregpalast.com

http://www.helpamericarecount.org

http://www.indyvoter.org

http://www.legitgov.org

http://www.pacifica.org/programs/election2004/20041204-...

http://www.punkvoter.com

http://www.newshounds.us

http://www.nvri.org

http://www.shuartfarm.fsnet.co.uk/government/evoting/ca...

http://www.thealliancefordemocracy.org

http://thomhartman.com

http://www.truthout.org

http://www.usccr.gov

http://www.ustogether.org

http://www.verifiedvoting.org

http://www.velvetrevolution.us

http://www.votersunite.com

http://watchingthewatchers.org

http://www.wheresthepaper.org/links.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_U.S._presidential_ele...

http://www.yuricareport.com/ElectionAftermath04/Directo...

[kamqute]

1. For sustainable hemp business cards, go to rawganique.com

Start ordering now if you plan on printing them

[kamqute]

2. Another gnn article

http://www.gnn.tv/jump.php?id=A00934

[straw_citizen]

3. kick

[Andy_Stephenson]

4. Kick

Endorsed by Andy Stephenson

yall

[straw_citizen]

6. back at ya

[newyawker99]

10. Hi straw_citizen!!

Welcome to DU!!

[Wilms]

5. kick n/t

[kamqute]

7. Mairead posted this on kucinich.us

My criticisms would be that

- the card is too small.

Business cards are usually handed person-to-person. Even when a stack of them is available in a holder on a desk or counter, they are often overlooked. If you're going to distribute them by making them available to be picked up, I'd suggest they be 3x5 and possibly light yellow stock. People have to notice them before they can decide whether to take one.

- there's no 'hook'.

The card is an advert, the same as any other. To get people to read what's on the card, you have to 'hook' their attention. The best hook is one that addresses self-interest in a few words. You can see why 'Make $1000 Every Day' would attract interest. But 'Stop Fascist Takeover' would be rejected because people don't believe there are fascists anymore, and certainly not here. When you're trying to hook people, you can't go outside what they think they know.

- there's too little spelled-out information

You can't expect random people to have information you haven't given them. Your cards right now are a handy reference for people in the know who need a list of urls and buzzwords, but there's too much left unsaid for the card to be useful to ordinary people.

[kamqute]

8. I think that 3rd criticism is nullified because the cards are 2-sided

[icehenge]

21. I have to agree

I think your doing an important job but I have some
comments also.

There needs to be some catch words and then an explanation
as the last poster noted. Something like "was your vote counted?"
And then go on explaining why their vote might have been lost
or shifted.

I like all the links but I think it might be overkill.
I'd suggestion limiting the links. With to many sources its
gives a strange illusion to me that your uncertain of your
point. I thinking educating people is most important so I'd
pick links on that pretext.

I like congress website and phone number.

[kamqute]

22. Thanks!

I see where you're coming from about the links but I think if it's overkill we'll have to kill all the links. I thought about the overkill issue but if you just put a couple of links on it looks like you're going 'dude..look what I found out on the internet' rather than presenting a cohesive picture. The links are really more of a graphic anyway..that's why the're pale. But maybe we should kill them all. Or maybe I'm talking out of my butt. Dunno.

[kamqute]

9. Hartman Forum Post

I like the idea. I don't like the layout. Too many websites and the message isn't clear enough.

I would say something like:
THE REPUBLICANS STOLE THE ELECTION
Why are they holding up the Holt bill which prevents vote fraud? (show website)
Why didn't they recount Ohio according to procedure? (show a website)

AREN'T WE AT WAR IN IRAQ TO DEFEND OUR RIGHT TO VOTE?

just my 2cents...

[Zan_of_Texas]

11. Error.

it is www.votersunite.org

not .com



Also, be reasonable in what you want as a reaction from an average person. You have a few seconds to capture their attention. If they are "grabbed," they MAY spend 5 or 10 minutes following up -- that would be judged a success in the media world.

Give them a snack, not a banquet.

Don't expect someone to catch up to those who have been focusing on this for 6 months or several years, with information crammed onto a business card.

AND, don't use insider terms like HAVA, or Mercuri method. Or HR 2239. If they know what that stuff is, they don't need your business card.

[straw_citizen]

16. Fixed '.org' and thanks for the feedback.

Fixed '.org' and thanks for the feedback. We put HAVA and Mercuri method in for people to look up if so inclined. If they're not interested, they'll probably leave the card where they found it. Eventually someone will pick it up, who will look things up on their own. We are necessarily optimistic about this to begin with

[kamqute]

12. I believe we have concluded the slogan should be changed

That would be the large black message on the side with all the links. Please provide suggestions!

[clicheguevara]

13. Great Idea

From a design standpoint, I like the clean look, but may look better if the gray text was centered instead of left aligned.

I also don't like the word "legit" - too slangy and just makes me think of MC Hammer - prefer "legitimate."

[straw_citizen]

15. 'legit' is a short legal term and necessary

I get your point, and thought the same myself. But it's important that correct and adequate legal terminology be associated with all voting discussion.

Did you know the word 'ballot' is in a legal dictionary, but not 'vote' though both are used throughout the Constitutions?

'Paper trail' is not a legal term either, so why do we want to use that? Instead we need to use 'ballot evidence'. Neither word is likely to be erradicated from a legal dictionary, and both words are clearly defined legally. 'Paper trail' or 'voter-verified' are not legal terms so they are useless.

Thanks for the feedback. It presents opportunity to clarify the thought process behind implementing this. More please?

[straw_citizen]

14. We could do some semi-humorous cards.

We could do some semi-humorous cards. Like on one side have, "baaaad things man" and put "HAVA" and "Rush Holt Bill 2239" on the other side. The intent is that a message appear on both sides so there isn't a blank side face up.

Also, we're aiming for the attention of semi-apolitical people who otherwise do their homework, who will at least question the buzzwords and look up the links. Those kind of people usually act in some way or other and they usually talk about what they act on.

We plan to leave these wherever we go. We won't be handing them out to people unless someone asks us for one which is doubtful.

The links provided in the initial post are for "mix and match" purposes. That's why we asked for suggestions on more links.

[kamqute]

17. Official nested section for slogan ideas--post in REPLY to this post

No idea is too crumby, unless they reference a specific group or agent having stolen the election

Here are some crumby ones of mine:

Don't Cast Your Ballot Away
One Vote Is Too Many Lost
My Vote Didn't Count
Bad Schools, Bad Parks, Bad Hospitals, Bad Votes

[kamqute]

18. Another Idea

Something along the following lines:

(in large font): 95% experienced a better election!
(in small font): Paper Ballots
OR
(in small font): Exit Polls

of course, we would use an accurate percentage of unspoiled votes or correct prediction and/or aggregate correlation

Edit: People are supposed to think it says 'erection'

Edit 2: Catherine says why not just use 'erection' and let 'Paper Ballots' or 'Exit Polls' make the connection?

Edit 3: Corrected Typo

[kamqute]

19. Spread Democracy

The Christian Vote Campaign

[kamqute]

20. WE ARE PROTESTANT

(against the vote)

[NationalEnquirer]

26. How about...

USA! Spreading Democracy around the World:
How bout we start here at home?

[straw_citizen]

32. that's great and thanks!

Got another?

[kamqute]

23. We will need the final design up by the 20th so we can begin a DA campaign

[paineinthearse]

24. Great idea

This reminds me of stickers on public telephone hand pieces I saw at Boston University. They read "this phone is tapped, Patriot Act" or such. Very visual. Hope to see more in places outside a college. Along with your cards.

[Acryliccalico]

25. Kick n/t

[eek]

27. Too much information (so to speak)

Why not just give a few links or, better yet, put all your links together on one website . Then you can just send folks to that page rather than having it all on the card.
If i were Average Joe, I wouln't bother because I wouldn't want to have to choose what to look up.

Too, Average Joe may not have the time or patience to visit all of the sites you have listed.


So: my opinions are:

use punchy headlines on the cards as many have suggested
keep design short, sweet, sloganny (think laundry detergent, adverts "new" "improved""Free beer" "Just Do it"

use no vocabulary words that would be too fancy for Faux/CNN/Reality show viewers

Must not come off as Lefty Kooky. Mustn't scare anyone off.
Put up a website that synthesises the information clearly, briefly, bullet-pointy (a la drudge, Buzzflash) with links to the other sites.
Bonus is that you can keep adding links whereas the cards could go stale.
Site could include 'check back often for updates" or 'bookmark this page for frequent updates"



I do like the biz card format, though.

Under windshield wipers in Kmart/Walmart/Target/grocery store parking lots

Bulletin boards everywhere

Insert between pages uf popular books/magazines

Stick them in magazines at Dr's office

Public restrooms; tape a bunch insire stall doors

Tape to back of taxi or bus seats, subway walls, route maps




blah blah

[kamqute]

28. Thanks a lot

I agree there should be such a site, but perhaps there already is one? If not, we will work on that. The links, however, are intended to lend a force of credibility to what we are saying. Many people believe that if something is printed in many places, it must be true. This is meant to counteract the idea that this is just some lefty kooky, to which you referred. But now I'm not so sure. I see a subdiscussion in the making

[kamqute]

29. We should also be screening for 'liberal kooky' links on the cards

Anybody think there are any?

[Andy_Stephenson]

30. I think they

ROCK!

[kamqute]

31. Aww..Thanks!