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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 8 No. 3 |
September 2004 |
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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 8 No. 3 |
September 2004 |
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Tuesday, November 2nd. Election Day
Will you be at the polls?Elected officials make decisions about things that are important to you –
your wages, your health care, your education, your housing and your security.
Voting is your chance to choose the decision makers and tell them what you want.
Make sure your voice is heard on November 2nd - VOTE!MAIN is involved in a voter engagement project to help low-income people exercise their right to vote. This project is centered in the two regional MAIN groups.
Northern Regional MAIN is going door-to-door in Talmar Woods, a housing project in Orono. “We want to meet our neighbors, help them register to vote and get them to the polls,” said Laura Moore, project coordinator. “We also want to help folks get information about the candidates and the issues on the ballot. This is about our future. It’s so important the people take this duty – voting – seriously.”MAIN hopes this project will help to build relationships so we can work on other local needs identified by residents. “There’s lots to do, so if knocking on doors is not your thing, contact me and I’ll tell you about other ways you can help with this project.” Contact Laura at 866-3910.
Don’t let others decide. Vote! Your life depends on it.
58% of eligible adults with income under $35,000 registered to vote.
Of those, only 45% voted.
77% of eligible adults with income $35,000 and higher registered to vote.
68.5% of them voted.
Based on the 2000 US Census
Over in Lincoln County, Midcoast MAIN is stirring up the voters too. They are working with a broad coalition to register and educate voters. Russ Anderson, Midcoast MAIN coordinator, has been getting local MAIN members to meet with other local folks interested in a progressive political agenda. “In order to meet housing, health care and other basic needs of Maine’s low-income residents, we need to work together to make sure our elected officials hear our voices. If we find a candidate we like, we then need to work on their campaign and continue to educate them.”
Midcoast MAIN is also focusing on working with Head Start parents to make sure they vote on November 2nd. To get involved or to find out more, contact Russ at: advocate@midcoast.com .
MAIN will also be calling our members who are not registered to vote so we can help get you registered. If you’ve moved, you will need to register again. You can also register on your own by filling out the enclosed card and mailing or taking it to your town office. (Be sure to enclose or take along a form of identification listed on the card.)
VOTE BEFORE NOVEMBER 2…No need to stand in line. You won’t worry that you’ll forget to vote on Election Day! Any registered voter may also choose to vote in person at the clerk's office as soon as absentee ballots are available. (30-45 days before Nov. 2nd)
Want to “vote from home?”
Need a ride to the polls?
Want to work on a local campaign, or do you just have a question?
We can help!
Contact:
MAIN: Judy Guay 947-4371 or Russ Anderson 832-4754
Maine Equal Justice: 1-866-626-7059 x 204 for Chris Rusnov
My vote doesn’t make any difference. Oh really?
In 1776, ONE VOTE gave America the English language instead of German.
In 1878, ONE VOTE saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
In 1923, ONE VOTE gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party in Germany.
In 1984, ONE VOTE passed a Minimum Wage Increase in the Maine Legislature.
In 1995, ONE VOTE defeated a two-year time limit on AFDC benefits in Maine.It’s not just a right, it’s our duty!
Our greatest power lies in electing people who will work for what we know
is fair and just.
How To Register: Most social services agencies and the Division of Motor Vehicles have registration cards. Fill one out and mail or deliver it to your town office or register at the polls on Election Day.Vote from Home – absentee voting. Anyone can. No reason needed.
“I knew I’d be busy on Election Day and I worried that I’d forget to go to the polls, so I voted ahead of time.”
Get an absentee ballot application at your town office or get one on line. Mail or take it to your town clerk’s office. They will send you a ballot (or you can vote right when you’re there). Ballots are available 30-45 days before November 2nd. Vote and then mail or deliver your ballot so it arrives anytime before 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Who can register? Who can vote? You must be at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day. You must be a United States citizen, live in Maine and register in the town or city where you live. (Contrary to popular belief, ex-felons and those incarcerated can vote in Maine.)
How to vote & where to vote: Go to your town office or local public library to see the ballot. You can also ask for help at the polls. Call your town office to find out where to vote and when the polls are open. All polling places close at 8:00 p.m. Go to the Maine Secretary of State's site to find your polling place.
Get educated. Don’t just depend on the 30-second TV ads.
“Making an informed decision means learning what is best for you and society overall. We also need to realize that political decisions affect our daily lives, from the price of milk and bread to the quality of “safety-net” programs available if our families should need them.”
Russ Anderson, MAIN Vice President
- Read about the candidates and ballot measures.
- Attend, listen to, or watch any debates.
- Go to candidates’ web sites.
Go to forums and ask candidates, if elected, what will you do...
- To help low-income people go to college or get more training?
- To raise wages for low wage workers?
- To make sure MaineCare is available to all who need it?
- To reduce the cost of prescription drugs?
- To create more affordable housing? Child care? Transportation?
If you find a candidate you like, then work on their campaign and continue to teach them about issues that affect people with low incomes.
In the year 2000, of the 15 million young women (18 – 35 years old) eligible to vote, 11 million were not registered.
Super Web Sites
www.lwv.org
This web site is sponsored by the League of Women Voters. It is a non partisan website where you can find state and national candidates and get information about issues on the ballot, where to vote, and when to vote. You can also register to vote and apply to vote from home – absentee voting.
www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/
Maine Secretary of State’s election information web site: Find your polling place, information on absentee voting and more.http://www.citizensunitedformaine.com
This is a web site for the coalition to defeat the Palesky referendum and has many good links.
