In response to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s bipartisan Senate confirmation soon, Movon executive director Rahna Epting issued the following statement:
“Ketanji Brown Jackson is a prominent lawyer who has a remarkable record who was outstanding during his confirmation hearing, and I am very excited to be able to refer to him as ‘Justice Jackson’ very soon.
“Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination for President Biden’s Supreme Court is a historic moment for our country and an ongoing battle to ensure that justice under the law is equal. We’ve been in the Supreme Court for over 230 years without a black woman, a clear exception that was finally corrected by today’s bipartisan Senate vote.
“Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, his hearing was also an ugly cesspool of attack from the right, at the root of the MAGA conspiracy theory. This is one of the reasons why the Supreme Court needs multiple nominees to strike a balance, hijacked by right-wing powers that have created a conservative majority to issue sweeping judgments against our rights and freedoms as Americans. ”
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Let’s move on One of the largest independent progressive advocacy groups in the United States, bringing millions together for a better society – where everyone can improve. Whether by supporting candidates, passing legislation or changing our national culture, MoveOn members are committed to uniting for an inclusive and progressive future characterized by equality, sustainability and justice.
After a year like 2020, it is normal to want to take a political breath. Most of us have a laid back attitude when it comes to painting a picture about politics, politics and candidates. Yet the cycle does not stop. Although federal elections do not take place during the year, city and state elections can take place depending on the election schedule or whether a representative has left office. Participating in off-year elections is just as important and arguably more influential because they affect anyone close to home. They have the power to influence the daily life of a voter and to set the course for the upcoming midterm and general election cycle.
With the exception of some special elections, the election of the year takes place on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, just like the general election cycle. This makes the election date for 2021, November 2nd. Although hundreds of local elections will be held across the country, 10 elections will be held across the state, including 2 governorates, and 1 for the US House of Representatives seats.
What a race to see
Virginia Governorate Elections
The Virginia race for governor replaces Ralph Northam, a high-profile, term-limited governor. Currently, the state is completely controlled by Democrats, and Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe is likely to remain so if he confirms the governorship. However, he is running against popular Republican candidate Glenn Yankin, who is known to support President Trump and is trying to keep appealing to more moderate voters in the state. According to a recent survey, this election could be very close and certainly worth a look.
Things that Virginia voters will consider
Since securing control of the State House of Delegates, Senate, and Governorship, the Virginia Democrats have made some progress in policy reform, primarily expanding voter access. In this race for governor, the issue of voter rights versus electoral integrity has become a contentious issue, with the state becoming the easiest to vote for. At the beginning of his campaign, Yunkin expressed concern for the integrity of the election and called for the creation of an “Election Integrity Commission”. McAuliffe’s campaign also addresses this issue, claiming that the current audit method is sufficient to ensure the integrity of the election.
Following the 2020 presidential election, a Politico poll found that 70% of Republicans believe the election was not free and fair. Since this has become a national conversation, Virginia voters are sure to consider this issue when going to the polls.
Ohio Special Election for the US House of Representatives
The race will be competitive for Ohio’s 15th district, as the district is rather divided by party lines. Although Ohio is generally a red state, the 15th District is known to be less conservative. Trump-backed candidate Mike Kerry will run against Democrat Allison Rousseau. Although winning this seat will not change House party control, it will indicate what to expect from Ohio in the mid-2022 term.
It’s a tough fight for Rousseau, but he and other Democrats are hoping for a 2018 victory for Democratic Senator Sherd Brown in the 15th District. Anything is possible and both sides see this competition as an opportunity to build momentum towards the ’22 midterm ‘.
Things that Ohio voters will consider
Republican Kerry’s platform highlights controversial issues such as critical race theory and abortion. Both the 2020 protests against police brutality and the recent abortion laws in the states are highly relevant. He also advertised his approval of Trump, citing it throughout his campaign and on his merchandise. These tactics prove that President Trump has influence over the Republicans, however, with the more moderate voters in the district can block him.
Pennsylvania Judicial Election
States across the country will elect state judges who will have the power to interpret the law. While these elections tend to get less media coverage, they have the potential to change the course of a state’s law. Judges either overturn or set a precedent for each case they face. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Superior Court, and the Commonwealth Court all have vacancies that will be filled on November 2.
Judicial races in Pennsylvania are high profile because their courts played an influential role after the 2020 presidential election. The Commonwealth court was the first to deal with Trump’s campaign case, contesting state elections. Seven Republican judges were in favor of President Trump, a decision confirming that the no-excuse vote-by-mail violated the state constitution. When the cases went to the state Supreme Court, they were overturned These decisions influenced the outcome of the presidential election, and demonstrated the immense power of the judiciary, even at the state level.
Things that Pennsylvania voters will consider
Pennsylvania courts have been controversial in recent years. Voters are keeping an eye on the future of the election, with decisions on garimandering, voter law and Trump campaign lawsuits.
Boston mayoral election
Whatever the outcome, Boston’s mayoral race is sure to be historic. If both candidates win, they will be the first woman and the first person to be elected mayor of Boston. Although they are both Democrats, Michelle Woo and Anissa S.B. George have a lot to worry about. The race has become more competitive, with some calling it a “progressive-versus-moderate conflict.” Wu is currently the most advanced who has been identified as more progressive, while SIB George has claimed a moderate approach.
Things that Boston voters will consider
One of the biggest issues between U and SB George is police reform. SEB George has set himself apart from all other candidates by rejecting the idea of reducing police funding. Rather, he spoke in favor of recruiting more diverse teams of officers to address the problem of police brutality. Wu condemned the move, citing his support for defending the police force. They also discussed hot topics such as rent control, school and testing methods, climate change and public transport. Again, even though they belong to the same group, they have shown complete differences in their approach to solving each problem.
Things that voters across the country will consider
Although some races gained more traction, there were several hundred more races at the local level on November 2nd. Given Pew Research’s poll and national conversations with Google Trends data, it’s clear that voters have the following issues on their minds when it comes to this year’s election.
Abortion
Budget
Climate change
Covid regulations
Criminal justice
Electoral reform
Healthcare
Housing
Medicaid
Pension
Policing
Racism
Redistricting
Transportation
Find out where the candidates stand on the subject you care about
With Voterly’s new issue feature, you can go to a politician’s profile and see if they’re up to 30 different topics, including many listed above! Find candidates on your ballot using our Browse Politician tool and view their profiles to find out which issues are most important to them. From there, you can click on each, individual issue to see the position of politicians based on a calculation of group ratings of interest.
To learn more about our most interactive features, take a closer look at our previous blog Happy voting!
The issues that voters will consider in the 2021 off-year elections were originally published in Voterly on Medium, where people continue the conversation by highlighting the story and reacting.
Since February, MoveOn members across the country have donated more than 1 1.1 million to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, supported the pressure on diplomacy over militarism, and expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Thank you for taking action together in this difficult time. And yet, we know we have more to do.
Pictures of the war in Ukraine, including attacks on civilians, a few miles long Russian blockade and families fleeing for their lives are devastating.
Putin’s aggression — and the death and destruction it brings অবশ্যই must have serious consequences. That is why Movon members across the country have taken steps to support the diplomatic efforts of the Ukrainian people and the administration and to end the war.
Here is a snapshot of our collective support so far:
We have Has collected over $ 1.1 million World Central Kitchen and United Help for direct relief efforts from Ukraine to Ukraine.
Has over 160,000 members Signed a petition Solidarity with the Ukrainian people
More than 54,000 members have downloaded one “We are with Ukraine” sign Hanging in their community
We shared our stories about why diplomacy and peace are important to us, including These have been highlighted on Instagram And down.
What are the biggest barriers to preventing citizens from voting? Information, accessibility, and resources, to name a few. Voterly is on a mission to bring voters comfort and give them confidence to participate in democracy. That’s why we provide digital voter tools to like-minded organizations like HeadCount and Motivote to help educate and engage voters.
Voterly proudly offers digital voter tools that can be embedded on any website. If your organization’s goal is to inform and organize voters, then we have the technology to strengthen your efforts.
Find my representative
Us Find my representative The tool can be used to research representatives at the local, state and federal levels. By inputting their address, a voter can view a list of their elected officials. Users can click on any profile to be directed to Voterly, where they can learn more about the officeholder. Each profile contains data on a politician’s summary, job history, priority issues, and campaign funding.
This tool serves anyone who is looking for fast and easily accessible data from their representatives. Moving towards the election, it is a reliable source for research of current office holders and those who are competing for additional positions. This allows the user to find all their relevant politicians in one place.
Check it out for yourself! Us Find my representative The tool is live on Headcount’s website. Their organization emphasizes voter organization and registration. Our tool assists newly registered voters in their endeavors by enabling them to learn more about the politicians they represent and to connect with them.
Voter registration check
We have an offer Voter registration check Tool. It can be used to check a voter’s registration status, to be notified of any changes, and to point users to their state’s voter registration page if they are not registered. Many states have a process where inactive voters are removed from the voter registration list. This is often referred to as “voter cleansing”. Some states will not even notify voters that they are being removed, leaving them to find out when trying to vote. To avoid that problem our voter registration has been checked, allowing users to double check their registration, as well as warning them to change.
This tool serves voters who have already registered to vote. It empowers voters to go to the polls with confidence knowing they are eligible to participate in democracy.
Try the tool in Voterly. Like Find my representative Tool, Voter registration check Can be embedded on any site.
Smart ballot
Coming soon! Us Smart ballot The tool will be available for embedding on any website in 2022. The most interactive tool Voterly offers, Smart ballot Allows anyone to input their address and view their sample ballot online. From local to federal level, all competitions can be viewed. From there, users can click on a candidate and be directed to Voterley’s Politician profile, where they can do further research. Once they are selected, users will be able to save, download and print their ballots for use as a voter guide. They can even share them Smart ballot With friends, with family, and on social media if they like.
If you want to vote with confidence, preparation is the key. Smart ballot Provides a plan to the voter by providing reliable and accurate candidate information. Any organization that wants to organize voters can do so with good conscience Smart ballotNot just encouraging people to vote, but informing them.
Partner with us
Resources are needed to try to encourage civic participation. Voterly provides reliable data to strengthen any voter-centric organization, so that it can provide all the resources its users need. Interested in getting started? Contact us at [email protected] and let us know how we can serve you.
Voter Engagement Tools – Branded by You, Powered by Voterly was originally published on Voterly on Medium, where people continue the conversation by highlighting the story and responding.
Republicans in the Senate did everything in their power to derail and weaken Justice Jackson’s nomination, with his confirmation hearing seen as an opportunity to spread racist, sexist bile and ridiculous conspiracy theories. But above all, Justice Jackson refused to bow to their level, even maintaining his restraint during some foreign attacks from Republicans.
And through that, Movon members like you were there to support Justice Jackson and to oppose Republicans’ efforts to stop his confirmation.
Since its confirmation hearing began:
Moveon members have made about 10,000 calls to Congress in support of his confirmation,
More than 80,000 members have signed a petition calling for his release,
Young Movon members took to the streets in front of the Supreme Court to show their immediate support on the day of his nomination, and
150,000 people have ordered these beautiful stickers designed by artist Amanda Mustard to show their support for her historic nomination.
You can join thousands of fellow MoveOn members today to celebrate Justice Jackson’s confirmation by ordering your free KBJ sticker, leaving it somewhere visible and sharing this message with your family and friends! Click here to order now.
Justice Jackson will be a voice for the people in court, as a public defender and has served on a sentencing commission. After Mitch McConnell and the Republicans pack it up with far-right conservatives, the work will have to continue to balance the court. We need at least three judges in court, Jackson, because we have human and civil rights on the line. So grab your sticker now as a reminder of what is at stake in our work to proudly demonstrate your support for this historic confirmation and to build an America where everyone can improve.
Thank you for everything you have done.
Source:
1. “Senate confirms Jackson, the first black woman to be promoted to the Supreme Court.” New York Times, April 7, 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/07/us/ketanji-brown-jackson-vote-scotus#the-senate-votes-to-move-forward-with-jacksons-confirmation
As 2021 draws to a close, the Senate is in disagreement with the Memorandum of Understanding. Tensions among lawmakers have risen as the Democrat-led Social Expenditure Bill, the Build Back Better Plan, has stalled. A promise to pass a federal voting rights bill has yet to be fulfilled. The pressure on Americans is mounting at a time when inflation is rising and there is a global epidemic. With all the legal impasse, President Biden and major Democrat players are considering tougher measures to pass the bills.
The biggest blocker law in the Senate is Philipbuster. Philibuster is a strategy that minority parties use to prolong the debate on a bill and prevent it from being passed. A bill can be passed by a simple majority vote of 51-50, but if it is a filibuster, it must have 60 votes to end the debate and then the bill must be passed by that simple majority vote. Basically, with today’s use of Philibuster, any law requires a maximum majority of 60 votes because that is what it will take to get the bill to the final vote. Filebuster was never written in the constitution, which is why its rules and usage have changed over time. Although the previous Senate majority changed the rules for the sake of their cause, Democrats in this term are keeping a close eye on whether they are discussing new rule changes or even rumors to repeal Philibuster.
How will that work?
Democrats have the opportunity to establish a “nuclear alternative.” It is a parliamentary process where the Senate majority can bypass a rule by a simple majority vote. For the majority, it is a last resort for minorities like Philibuster to overcome any obstacle. However, since it is a tough measure to take, it is difficult to gain even a simple majority support. Two current Democrat senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kirsten Cinema of Arizona, have agreed to ignore the Philibuster rule.
This is not the first time the nuclear option has been used. Both parties took advantage of this at one time or another, first used by Senate Democrats in 2013. This allows the party to appoint federal judges with a simple majority instead of the original super majority (not including the Supreme Court).
What was the real purpose of Philibuster?
In the first few years of the country’s democracy, laws can be passed by a simple majority vote. If it is received, a bill can be voted on regardless of the call for debate. This rule was later repealed and made it possible for senators to hold the floor for debate. With this, Philibuster was born. However, it was not until the late 1900s that Philipbuster was widely deployed. In fact, the technique was used only twice in the 1800s.
The founding fathers called for the process to give the debate a chance and prevent the majority party from becoming too strong. It is argued that it was not their intention to use it as a common political weapon.
How did it evolve?
The use of filibuster has increased over time. The Slate study shows that between 1991 and 2008, in a span of nearly 20 years, the Democrat minority had filibuster 63 times and the Republicans filibuster 89 times. This number has grown rapidly in modern times. Senate reports show that in just one year, 2019-2020, Senate Democrats performed a record-breaking 328 Philibuster.
To put it bluntly, this is more than a 4,000% increase in Philibuster usage in 40 years.
The future of Philibuster
So what would change if Democrats could successfully change Philibuster’s rules? Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, has put forward an election bill to argue for a change in Philibuster. He published a letter to his colleagues explaining that if the states were able to pass an electoral law by a simple majority vote, the US Senate would be able to do the same. It avoids the planned vote to remove the 60-vote filibuster barrier to electoral legislation.
Overriding any legislation can be a slippery slope. This sets a precedent that both sides can use when they are in the majority position, potentially giving too much power to the majority. On the other hand, these rule changes could allow fewer gridlocks and more action among lawmakers.
With a united minority and a divided majority, Schumer’s attempt to change Philibuster’s rules is likely to fail. However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat President Conte’s government. Counting set January 17 as the symbolic date for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as a deadline to strengthen the vote. However, citing the current epidemic situation and a possible winter storm in DC, the vote was postponed to Wednesday the 19th.
What is Philibuster and why is everyone talking about it? Originally published in Voterly on Medium, where people continue the conversation by highlighting the story and reacting.
In response to the US Senate today failing to codify abortion rights, the executive director of MoveOn Political Action, Rahna Epting, issued the following statement:
Washington DC – “This vote is important because everyone in this country deserves to know where their elected leaders are in control of their own bodies. Every American should know that their elected officials believe that they are full citizens or second class citizens of this country. But it must be a first step, not a last step.
“We are not interested in show voting. We are not interested in empty words. Everything is in line. We need and we hope our elected officials will act quickly. To meet at this moment. No Senate rule is more important than our bodies. Our rights. We will not allow anyone – on either side – to hide behind the old Senate rules on this issue. Finish filibuster if you have to. But now support reproductive freedom.
“And for those who don’t, our message is clear: we’ll see you at the ballot box in November.”
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Let’s move on People-driven energy for progress. MoveOn unites the Left to elect Democrats and bring about progressive change. We are the homebase for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and manage to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been playing a strong role against radical rights, promoting our voice to end war, protect democracy and advance justice for all.
Voterly – Your most reliable voter asset this mid-season
Many questions come up about the election year. Am I still registered? When is the election? What office is up for re-election? How do I research candidates?
While most voter resource sites can answer one or two of these questions, Voterly answers them. By collecting data from trusted sources like Vote Smart, Wikidata, Google Civic Engine, Ballotpedia, Open Secrets and many more, Voterly presents the most reliable information in one place. Not only that, we are proud to be non-partisan. We are committed to presenting independent, data-driven information that lets you make decisions for yourself based on your own values.
Preparing for an election should not be a difficult task. Party-line voting should not be the easiest option. With Voterly, you can make quick and informed decisions based on what you value. Learn how below:
Research candidates with smart ballots
Your most trusted voterli tool this election season. Smart ballots surpass state-issued paper ballots that you receive in the mail. Instead of just pointing out the offices and candidates who are running for re-election, Smart Ballot also provides information for everyone, so you can understand the position and who is running for it. Interactive ballot allows you to click on any candidate in a contest and view their politician profile. The profile contains information on politicians’ experiences, campaign funding, priority issues, and more.
After comparing each candidate, as a voter you will be able to decide with whom you are best aligned. Once you have completed your ballot accordingly, you can download and print the smart ballot for voting. You can even send your ballot to friends and family through our share feature. Your smart ballot will be available to voters 30 days before your upcoming election, so you can vote and vote with a plan.
Review your state’s 2022 Voting Guide
Since the 2020 election, more than half of the 50 states have changed their voting laws. For a quick overview, check out our blog outlining the changes in each state in 2021.
To help keep track of all recent changes, Voterly provides voter law and timeline information for each state in the country. Click on the state in which you are registered to find upcoming election dates, deadlines, registration requirements, voter ID laws, and vote-by-mail options. Sign up for election reminders so you never miss an original registration or election date. Continue the page to find links to register to vote, find your polling place, track your ballot, and more. We have a checklist at the top of each page to quickly summarize how voter-friendly your state is by highlighting whether it offers things like online voter registration, automated voter registration, all-mail voting, voting time off, and criminal voting. .
Check and monitor your voter registration
Voters often arrive at the polling station to find that their registered voters have been removed from the list. Often referred to as voter cleansing, states will do this after voters are inactive in recent, previous elections. With the help of our registration status and monitor tools, a voter can come to the polls with confidence that they are registered and ready to vote. Enter your name, date of birth and address in our Registration Status tool and quickly find out if you are still registered. Continue with our Registration Monitor tool so you can be alerted to any changes, including release from the roll. It’s easy with Voterly!
Research your representatives and key politicians
Visit our My Reps tool and enter your address to browse each politician you represent at local, state, or federal offices. Click on their profile card to view their politician profile providing more details about their work as a representative.
Our latest feature in these profiles is the issue score. Voterley provides information on where a politician is positioned on 30 different political issues, including abortion, climate change and gun control. Each card is labeled next to the issue they advocate for and has a star rating next to it to represent how much the politician has prioritized and acted while in office. Each of these scores is calculated by collecting ratings from a collection of relevant interest groups. For more details on issue scores and calculation methods, check out our recent blog outlining the feature.
Get started today
The election season does not have to be overwhelming. Research candidates don’t have to feel like a job. With Voterly, it’s fast and informative. It is non-partisan and truth-based.
Get ready for the primary and midterm elections in Voterli today.
Voterly – Your most trusted voter resource this midterm season was originally published on Voterly on Medium, where people continue the conversation by highlighting the story and responding.
This weekend, more than a million people across the country joined the Ban of Our Bodies procession. And we should expect. Hope for a world where everyone has physical autonomy. A world where everyone is respected, valued and civil and human rights are fully protected. After countless attacks on abortion and reproductive rights, people have come together to declare abortion a health care and demand that our elected officials take action before it is too late.
From coast to coast, we are “forbidden from our bodies!” Watch and share this video from processions and news coverage across the country.
These incredible assemblies were driven by MoveOn members like you, Planned Parenthood, Ultraviolet, Women’s March, state and local fertility trial leaders, and hundreds of community abortion providers across the country. Despite the relentless onslaught on our rights, we have come together to show that we will not give up on this fight — and that we cannot afford it unless it is banned from our bodies, as well as affordable, quality and comprehensive healthcare for all.
Online and on the streets, MoveOn members across the country rallied to support abortion access and to demand that abortion be safe, legal, and accessible across all communities.
Together, in the last two weeks since the Supreme Court’s opinion was leaked, Movon members.
More than $ 150,000 has been raised for abortion providers
Has collected more than 300,000 signatures for abortion petition
More than one million people attended 450 Ban of Our Body events across the country.
We urgently need to keep up the pressure – because politicians are restricting our physical autonomy and access to vital health care, we must come together and show that we are not lagging behind.
We’ll hit the road again in the coming weeks and when the final decision from SCOTUS will come. Sign up here to make sure you’re one of the first to know when and where to show up
You can keep up the pace by taking these steps:
MoveOn will continue to fight for a country where everyone can improve. We will push back against the right-wing Supreme Court, and we will continue to expand the demands of those in power and protect our rights. Together, we can build a movement that cannot be ignored.
