Mitchell Kapor Foundation Weblog

Wow. I’m stunned. Elated. Much has been written already, so there’s little need for me to babble on, but I’m tremendously happy about the new incoming administration. Moreover, I’m deeply proud of our grantee and partner organizations and the various roles that they have played in helping to prompt the massive voter turnout and monitoring of the electoral process. We’ll soon be able to have a measure of effectiveness of their work as organizations begin to sort out their voter participation data. I can’t wait!

Sure, we as a nation still have a ways to go with respect to smooth elections administration, since elections oversight varies greatly from county to county. I’m factoring this issue into the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities for 2009. It isn’t too early to work on improving on our electoral processes now that voting is in vogue again!

On a strictly personal level, I’m mad and disappointed about the passage of Prop. 8, the latest in a series of mean-spirited, progress-limiting initiatives written into law (remember 187, 209, 227, and 22?). I continue to question the role – or even the legitimacy - of public policy making by mass balloting, particularly in today’s money and media driven campaigns.

Next Monday and Tuesday, the Foundation is sponsoring one of the call center sites for the National Campaign for Fair Elections, organized chiefly by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. Callers can find their polling places and ask other logistical information, as well as report any obstructions or inconsistencies at polling sites. Everyone should have access to the ballot on November 4th, and all votes should be counted! Spread the word about 866-OUR-VOTE!!

Now, I’m off to get married at City Hall.

Comic strip: Candorville, by Darrin Bell

Okay, I should’ve known this was coming when community organizers were maligned at the RNC convention.  I write this post with a nonpartisan spirit, knowing that increased voter registration and participation benefits and strengthens our democracy, as do efforts to root out voter suppression. But it angers and sickens me that a well-established and well-respected group like ACORN can be put in the line of fire for following the rules - yes, orgs doing voter registration drives must turn in ALL of the reg forms (details vary from state to state), even if Mickey Mouse is listed as the potential voter.

Fortunately, ACORN is no shrinking violet, and neither are its allies. People for the American Way ran this full page ad in the New York Times.  In this ugly campaign, we must continue to expose injustice and the real frauds - those who work to minimize and deny access to voting!

This year, more than ever, underrepresented people of color have come out in record numbers to get involved in the national political process. The Mitchell Kapor Foundation is thrilled to be able to support the efforts of organizations that have done much in the way of amplifying that involvement and in helping to make sure that all our votes are being counted.

In an earlier blog, we mentioned the important work of Video the Vote in documenting any irregularities that may take place as we all try to make our votes count. Also, for a second presidential election cycle, the Mitchell Kapor Foundation is hosting the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law as they corral as many legal professionals as possible throughout the nation to answer calls and assist voters on Election Day. During the 2004 election cycle, this organization mobilized 25,000 trained volunteers, including 8,000 legal volunteers, to monitor polling places, educate voters, provide legal support to poll monitors, and to answer the 1-866-OUR-VOTE voter services Hotline.

As Election Day gets closer many have been looking to us for ways to help out with this historic election. First of all, if you are eligible to do so, be sure to register to vote. In California, your voter registration must be postmarked no later than October 20, 2008 to be eligible for this year’s presidential election!

For those who are looking for various ways to volunteer to support this year’s election, CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION!

Photo by Korea Resource Center via Flickr.

Yesterday at lunch we were lucky to host Ian Inaba and the team from Video the Vote, one of our new grantees through Citizen Engagement Lab. I first became acquainted with Ian’s work back in 2006 when we sponsored an in-house screening of his documentary American Blackout, which chronicled the highly-suspect 2004 elections irregularities in Ohio. It’s very very powerful and disturbing work.

By mobilizing monitors to polling sites, Video the Vote continues to capture what are at best inefficient and inconsistent elections administration practices, and at worst very upsetting trends in voter suppression. Ian shared a few sample videos with us and discussed their plans and partnerships for this year’s elections. Establishing broader awareness of these issues is critical to ensuring the intergrity of our voting process. They’re nonpartisan and need volunteers! Check ‘em out!