I wrote a letter to Ralph Neas

[SoCalDem]

Dear Mr Neas,

I watched your presentation on C-Span, and was very interested in your
thoughts about the upcoming election..
As an ordinary citizen, I have a few suggestions for your organization and
any others that do this great work.

1. We know that the republicans are all about suppression and
disenfranchisement, so why not beat them at their own game? Instead of
spending so much time GETTING people to register, when we know full well
that every document they present will be scrutinized every which way to
Sunday, why not push for a massive drive in the inner cities and poor areas
to get these people the one ID that cannot be ignored.. a US Passport..
With a passport, and a current rent receipt, they cannot be turned away
ANYWHERE.. There have got to be organizations who would be willing to
donate money to defray the costs for people who cannot afford the $85.00.
It seems to me to be the cheapest (in the long run) way to confront these
people who are determined to intimidate people.

2. Registration drives should be EARLY..follow-ups closer to election
times. By waiting so long and until so close to the election, it only calls
attention to the "on the ground" work, and cranks the republican slime
machine into high gear. We know they operate on fear, and massive amounts
of newly registered people scares the beejeebus out of them..

3. In areas that are run by republicans, but have a high percentage of
inner city, or under-registered people, especially minorities, why not
encourage them to REGISTER republican, so their registration will get the
care and handling it deserves.A bit devious, I admit, but if they did this
before the primaries, they would be registered voters.(you can count on
that). A phone call to the registrar's office is all it takes to get the
documentation to switch, in order to vote in a primary..then a simple
change back to republican , and they are all set for Fall elections. A side
benefit.. It will mess with their minds too. I can just imagine all those
little application-rippers salivating over the minorities and inner-city
people they have "recruited", only to find out that after they wasted tons
of money mailing the literature, those people went to the privacy of the
booth, and voted Democratic...Delicious:) The only thing missing, is the
film of their pointy little heads exploding:)

4. How about a push to make EVERY AUGUST, voter registration month? That
would leave plenty of time to clear up any discrepancies in voter status.
Like people are reminded to change their smoke alarm batteries yearly, a
voter registration check-up should be part of life too. It would remind
people that , if they have moved, they need to update their status, and
might jog memories of those who have been "meaning to register" but have
not.

5. And a reminder to people who fear that they might be challenged, to TAKE
A CAMERA (OR CELL PHONE CAMERA) to their polling station. If they are
challenged, they should take a photo of the challenger, demand
documentation, and photograph it as well. Is there a law against taking a
snap of their ballot before they submit it? That might make them feel a
little better..

6. Have tables set up outside the "legal perimeter" offering notary publics
to notarize affidavits ON THE SPOT, if they had problems. Maybe offering
Democrats the opportunity to swear to their votes. I know voting is via
secret ballots, but most democrats are not ashamed of their votes, and
would be willing to swear to their votes. These stats would not be for
release to the news media, but would be very helpful , since valid recounts
are becoming almost impossible.If a polling place had 500 registered
voters, and your stats showed that 350 voted D, it would surely raise a red
flag if the "official" count came in at 100.. You would have access to
sworn statements from the 350 you had verified, and they could be
contacted.and you would know it right away...not days later..

------------------
Their address..
Ralph G. Neas
Address
2000 M Street, NW 400
Washington, DC 20036

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I like your ideas!

:thumbsup: