Monday, November 30, 2009

World AIDS Day

The more people talk, the more we can accomplish. Just sharing your commitment to fighting global poverty with your friends can inspire them to make the same commitment, and start up a buzz that will build into a roar of collective action.

For World AIDS Day 12/1/2009, join with friends from TV and film who made a video sharing our commitment to defeating extreme poverty and preventable disease. I hope you'll watch, and share your own commitment by passing it on to people you know:

Throughout history we've seen how committed people, together, can change laws, break barriers and decide elections. And together, we can defeat extreme poverty and eradicate preventable, treatable diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

But it takes all of us working together across borders, time zones, cultures...through advocacy, action, and awareness-raising.

You can help us raise awareness about ONE and build a better future for millions of people living in poverty. Please join Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone and me, Ashley Greene, from Twilight; Leighton Meester, Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl; Corbin Bleu from High School Musical; Hayden Panettiere from Heroes; Tristan Wilds from 90210; Star Trek’s John Cho and Tropic Thunder’s Brandon T. Jackson by sharing our video to create a buzz in your community.



We're making progress in our fight, but more remains to be done. And it starts with you...me...all of us coming together.

It all starts with a buzz.

Thank you, use the above link to find out more about ONE.

Michael H. Drucker
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Saturday, November 28, 2009

Minor Party and Independent Candidates Are Involved in Constitutional Election Law Cases in At Least 21 States

Minor party and independent candidates are in at least 26 courts, in cases that challenge the constitutionality of various state election laws. A few new cases will probably be filed in December.

Use the above link to view the cases on the Ballot Access News' website.

Michael H. Drucker
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First the Impossible, Now the Improbable, in NY-23

The St. Lawrence County Board of Elections has certified impossible numbers in the special election for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. 93 “phantom votes,” more votes counted than the number of ballots cast, were reported in six election districts, and negative numbers reported for the “blank ballots,” or “undervotes.”

Such numbers are a red flag, indicating that something is terribly wrong with the electronic vote tabulation system countywide. Further scrutiny of the election results reveals numerous precincts where the results, although not always mathematically impossible, are not credible.

Use the above link to read Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D., article in the Gouverneur Times (Northern NY News).

Michael H. Drucker
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Independence Party Breaks Records


New York City Elects First Independent Mayor with

142,817 (150,073 w/absentee) Votes for Bloomberg on Column "C"

The New York City Independent Party Organizations supports political reforms that bring the one million New York independents into the heart of the political process. Initiatives like nonpartisan municipal elections, seating independents on the Board of Elections, separating party interest from the public interest and making sure that good policy, rather than partisan politics, guides the running of this city - are the core principles of our independent movement.

We have worked to build a new electoral coalition in New York City, the Black and Independent Alliance, which took center stange in 2005 with 47% of African Americans voters and 65% of independent voters gave their support to the Independence Party's mayoral candidate, Mike Bloomberg, in his re-election bid. We've partnered with Mike Bloomberg since 2001, when the votes on our line gave him his first margin of victory. In 2007, Mayor Bloomberg became an independent himself and we believe he has governed our city in a nonpartisan fashion.

New Yorkers now have an independent mayor. Use this 2009 NY Mayor Voter Results LINK to view a breakdown analysis of the vote.

Michael H. Drucker
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Hoffman wants to 'unconcedes' in N.Y.-23 House race

Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman wants to "unconceded" in New York's special House election after reports that the vote margin narrowed between him and Rep. Bill Owens (D). Hoffman conceded the race on Election Night after learning he trailed Owens by 5,335 votes. But the Syracuse Post-Standard reported last week that the margin had shrunk to 3,026 votes after recanvassing.

Officials in the upstate New York district are still counting over 10,000 absentee ballots, which also had Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava's name on them. Scozzafava dropped out of the race three days before Election Day, citing poor fundraising and polling returns. She subsequently backed Owens.

Use the above link to read the article By Jordan Fabian.

Michael H. Drucker
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Saturday, November 7, 2009

Vote for NYC Mayor, Block by Block Maps

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg won re-election Tuesday, but voters were less enthusiastic about him than the last time he ran in 2005. The mayor did well in high-income white areas of Manhattan and Queens, and also in election districts dominated by immigrants, like Flushing and Brighton Beach. But his vote fell sharply in black neighborhoods, especially southeast Queens, where the black middle class has been hard-hit by foreclosure.

Use the above link to use the interactive map to view the election results by block.

Michael H. Drucker
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Friday, November 6, 2009

Serious as a Heart Attack: The Independent’s Story

Independents went left in 2008, but Jackie Salit warns that the Right wants them back. Are Dems listening?

When we finally get far enough down the road on health care reform, it will become clear that a driving force in the intensity of the fight was a heart attack. Not the medical kind. The political kind.

Use the above link to read an article by Jackie Salit, the president of IndependentVoting.org, executive editor of NeoIndependent.com (a magazine for independents) and the campaign coordinator for Mike Bloomberg’s mayoral campaign on the Independence Party line.

Michael H. Drucker
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Will we see the rise of a viable third party?

Some of the nation's top political commentators, legislators and intellectuals offer some insight into the biggest question burning up the blogosphere today.

Independents and third parties have been playing a bigger role in recent elections. With poll numbers for both parties on the decline, is there a real opening for independent/third party candidates?

Use the above link to read the answers from:

Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Tx.)
David Boaz, executive vice president of The Cato Institute
Herb London, president of the Hudson Institute
Rep. Steve Lynch (D-Mass.)
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tx.)
John Zogby, founder, president and CEO of Zogby International
John M. Snyder, public affairs director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Rob Richie, executive director of FairVote
Larry J. Sabato, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia
Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit
John F. McManus, president of the The John Birch Society

Michael H. Drucker
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NY Instant Runoff Elections

This post is from an email from "News from STATE SENATOR, Liz Krueger, New York State Senate, 26th District.

"The abysmal turnout for the New York City runoff election highlights the need for election reform. I carry legislation (S.3584), also sponsored by Assemblymember Kavanagh, which would enable, but not require, localities to establish an instant runoff election system.

Runoffs are extremely costly and only a tiny fraction of voters participate. In September we had a runoff for Comptroller and Public Advocate in which only 7% of the registered Democrat voters went to the polls but for which the City spent over 15 million dollars. And in both cases, the winners of the initial primary were the winners of the runoff. And in fact, the City would have had to spend 15 million even if there was only one runoff seat, instead of two. By passing my legislation New York will be able to use an instant runoff system in which, if someone doesn't garner a majority of the vote, the second choice votes will be selected at the same time on the same day. This will let everyone know the outcome of the “instant runoff” that day, saving taxpayers millions of dollars and ensuring that candidates with the maximum turnout of primary voters are elected.

Instant runoff voting gives voters the option to rank candidates according to the order of their choice. The first choice marked on each ballot shall be counted initially by election officials. If one candidate receives a majority of the first choice votes cast, excluding blank and void ballots, that candidate shall be declared elected. If no candidate obtains a majority of first choice votes, then the candidate receiving the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Each vote cast for the eliminated candidate shall be transferred to the candidate who was the voter's next choice on the ballot. If at this time one candidate had a majority of the vote they would be declared the winner; if not, then the process would repeat, with the lowest vote-getter again being eliminated until one candidate had the necessary percentage for victory.

There are several potential benefits to the instant runoff voting method. First, voters are free to mark their ballot for the candidate they truly prefer without fear that their choice will help elect their least preferred candidate. Second, it ensures that the elected candidate has true majority support. In addition, the instant runoff voting method should promote higher voter turnout, and encourage positive campaigning, because candidates will seek second-choice and third-choice votes from voters and will therefore be less likely to attack other candidates and alienate voters who support other candidates as their first choice. In situations in which runoffs are already required, it will eliminate the need for a second runoff election, with its increased costs and lower voter turnout.

Passing this bill is common sense. Localities should have a choice as to whether or not they want to save millions of wasted dollars which are needed for far more important purposes. Furthermore, it is a pilot program so if it is successful – which I expect it to be – then we can continue the option. But if it isn’t, then it will sunset at the end of 2012. Since the State and City are moving to paper ballots with optical scanners as the new voting machine technology, it will not be complicated to change to this multiple choice voting system."

I agree with the State Senator's suggestion. What do you think?

Michael H. Drucker
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Independent Wins NY 23rd District

Thanks to Ballot Access News for this post.

Jefferson County, New York, which is on Lake Ontario, has been represented by a Republican in the U.S. House starting with the 1854 election, the year the Republican Party was born. However, as a result of the November 3, 2009, special election in the 23rd district, Jefferson County will be represented by Bill Owens, the Democratic nominee who appears to have won.

Jefferson County’s largest city is Watertown. In the 1852 election, Jefferson County had been its own U.S. House district, and had elected an Independent to the U.S. House. Jefferson County hadn’t been represented by a Democrat in the U.S. House since a Democrat, Willard Ives, won the 1850 election in that part of New York.

Ironically, the new Congressman in the 23rd district, Owens, is a registered independent, even though he was the Democratic nominee.

Michael H. Drucker
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INDEPENDENCE PARTY BREAKS RECORDS‏


INDEPENDENCE PARTY BREAKS RECORDS;
142,817 VOTES FOR BLOOMBERG ON COLUMN C DELIVERS MARGIN TO CITY'S FIRST INDEPENDENT MAYOR


New York, NY-The Independence Party vote for Mike Bloomberg yesterday broke numerous records and re-enforced its ongoing mandate for independent governance and non-partisan reform.

Unofficial returns released by the Board of Elections put the IP total on Column "C" at 142,817 votes, nearly 26% of Bloomberg's total and 13% of all votes cast. This means that 1 in 4 Bloomberg voters chose to vote on the Independence Party line.

The vote for the mayor on the Independence Party line was an increase of 91% over its total four years ago, when it drew nearly 75,000 votes on its crucial Column "C".

Jacqueline Salit, who has run all three IP campaigns for Bloomberg stated: The Independence Party's 143,000 votes grows out of the strength of our grassroots organization, the popularity of political independence as a new option and a longstanding partnership with our independent mayor, Mike Bloomberg. This record breaking vote makes plain our growth and our role in the emerging shift in New York City politics. We're a new kind of minor party with an agenda for non-partisan reform. We have a broad and diverse base of support. We gave Mike his margin in a close race. And we made history by electing the city's first independent mayor.

In three consecutive elections, under varying circumstances, the Independence Party has made its mark on the NYC mayoral. In 2001, its 59,091 votes gave Bloomberg his margin over Democrat Mark Green, who lost by 35,000 votes. In 2005, the IP vote for Bloomberg grew by 26%, making it the only political party to demonstrate growth at the polls that year. This year, the IP delivered 13% of the total votes cast- the largest percentage ever-by a minor party for a cross-endorsed mayoral candidate.

For the last 20 years, other minor parties polled between 32,551 (the Working Families Party vote for Mark Green in 2001) and 62,469 (the Liberal Party vote for Rudy Giuliani in 1993).

# # #


Michael H. Drucker
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NYC 2009 Election Results

Mayor Bloomberg won a third term by 5%, 51% to 46%. But in my district, the 73rd (Eastside of Manhattan), the win was 82% to 16% with 2% for Other. In NYC, the mayor received 142,817 votes on Column "C", the Independence Party.

Use the above link to The New York Times' Election Results and use their interactive map to view each districts' results.



Michael H. Drucker
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