Home > Election Reform Illinois Conference - E.R.I.C.

Election Reform Illinois Conference - E.R.I.C.

by Open-Publishing - Wednesday 1 March 2006
3 comments

Parties Elections-Elected USA

Election Reform Illinois Conference - E.R.I.C.

Progressive Democrats of Illinois (PDI) is organizing a conference on election reform for our state.

Saturday, March 4th, 2006
12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

Batavia Public Library
10 South Batavia Avenue
Batavia, IL 60510

It is our belief that there can be no effective democracy without fair, transparent, accurate, and accessible procedures for voting. We firmly advocate that voting is a right of all citizens of Illinois and the United States of America. Illinois and the United States have a world-class history as a leader in democracy; it is long past time we developed standards for voting that will make this state the best in the world in electoral processes and procedures.

In that spirit, we are inviting representatives from all political parties, activist organizations, labor organizations, civil rights groups, and elected officials to attend a conference on the electoral process in Illinois.

This conference is intended to be the first in a series of meetings to hopefully develop a non-partisan plan for Illinois elections with support from across the entire political spectrum.

The focus of the first conference will be on finding what common ground we may all have with regard to how elections should be conducted in Illinois, or in any true democracy for that matter. In the interest of finding points of common ground, we are asking that attending organizations bring a "top twenty" list of things they would like to see improved in Illinois elections.

The point to bringing such a list is that it will allow all at the conference to see quickly the general outline of issue concerns that are common to all attending groups.

Further details at: http://www.illinoisprogressives.org...

Dan Stafford
Co-Chair, PDI

Forum posts

  • Wow! Sounds great. Sounds fantastic. So how do you explain the fact that the Democrats are pushing hard to make it all but impossible for third parties to run for office. No public campaign funds for a third party candidate who can’t get signatures from at least 10% of the total number of voters in the previous election. The 10% figure would be required for partial funding; for full funding the figure is 20%. This is part of HR 4694 sponsored by David Obey and cosponsored by, among others, Barney Frank, James McGovern and Henry Waxman—all supposed “Progressive” Democrats. Give it a rest, folks. "Progressive Democrat" is an oxymoron.

    • Because the Democrats currently in office aren’t progressive at all. Our intention is to change that. One of the items on our top 20 list is uniform ballot access requirements for all candidates regardless of party. What you see in office right now for the most part is what got elected by money and what will follow the corporate drumbeat. It’s an uphill battle, but there are plenty of progressive Democrats out there - and once there’s enough in office. However, if you really care to judge every individual by a label, feel free to vote Republican. I hear that’s their strong point lately, prejudice with malice. Of course, there are some of them that hate what is currently going on, too.

    • I wrote the first message and appreciate your response. I would no more vote Republican than I would vote Democrat. I was a strong supporter of Dennis Kucinich. Donated to the max. Worked upwards of 500 hours on his campaign. Then he sold out to John "Warrior" Kerry.The country does not need Progressive Democrats because there is no way they will wrest power from the money boys. What the country needs is a strong progressive third party that can bring back the millions of voters who have been completely disenfranchised by the two big parties.