Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Statement of Jay Heck of Common Cause in Wisconsin on "Ethics Commission" Decision to Allow Ethics Commissioners to Make Political Contributions



For Release: Wednesday - August 24, 2016

Yesterday, the newly-constituted partisan "Ethics Commission" voted 4 to 2 to allow its members to make political contributions to state candidates for election.

This is insanity.

As Ethics Commission member Robert Kinney, a former Oneida County circuit judge, argued yesterday “it’s a matter of perception and public confidence.”

“We have, right now, people claiming that elections are rigged,” Kinney said. “We don’t want to create a situation where there’s less confidence in government, less confidence in fairness, less confidence in nonpartisanship.”

Kinney and Republican Pat Strachota, the former Assembly majority leader, effectively voted against allowing contributions according to an AP article about the vote yesterday.

But much shame on Peg Lautenschlager, the former Democratic Attorney General, for voting against the ban on contributions from the partisan commissioners. As well as to Democratic, hyper-partisan attorney, David Halbrooks, Republican Party partisan Katie McCallum and former Republican State Senator and Waukesha County Judge Mac Davis for their support of allowing commission members to make contributions.

Just how stupid do they think Wisconsinites are?

The non-partisan retired judges, who comprised the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board prior to June 30, 2016, did not make political contributions to candidates for state office. But these commissioners yesterday, by a 4 to 2 vote, decided "it's fine."

No, it isn't.

How far we have fallen, so quickly.

Wisconsinites already have very little confidence in the newly-constituted, hyper-partisan Government Accountability Board to effectively oversee elections, campaign finance law, ethics and lobbying in Wisconsin, which was formed by Republican legislators and Gov. Scott Walker after they destroyed the nonpartisan GAB late last year.

This latest decision destroys what little confidence there may have been.



CONTACT:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)



Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI  53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org



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What College and University Students Need to Know and Do
to be Able to Vote This November



For Release: Wednesday - August 24, 2016


Voter Photo ID in Place This Fall!

Recent federal court decisions may make it possible for Wisconsinites to be able to cast in-person absentee ballots, earlier than has been the case since 2011, including weekends in some counties. As a result of a court ruling in July, you now only need to have lived at your current address for at least 10 days by Election Day in order to register to vote in that election district or ward.

But it seems fairly clear right now that Wisconsin's restrictive voter photo ID law will be in effect this Fall.

Photo voter ID presents some particular difficulties for those college and university students who lack a Wisconsin driver's license. Some colleges and universities already have a student ID that is compliant with Wisconsin law and can be utilized to vote, others offer an alternative school-issued "voter photo ID" that students must proactively request. Still others offer no ID that can be used for voting.

We have prepared this simple, "one stop" webpage for Wisconsinites and out-of-state students who attend Wisconsin public and private colleges and universities to go to in order to figure out what they will need to do to be able to vote:

What college and university students need to know and do to be able to vote this November

We will continually update this site as new information is received or changes. Check back often. And make sure every one you know understands what they need to do in order to vote this Fall. Please feel free to share this information widely!




CONTACT:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)



Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI  53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org



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Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Are You Planning to Vote in Today's Primary Election?



For Release: Tuesday - August 9, 2016


Every election matters! Take the time to cast your ballot in today's partisan primary election.

Polling places throughout Wisconsin open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM.

If you're not sure where your polling place is located or need directions to your polling place, go to MyVote.WI.gov, select "Where Do I Vote?" and then enter your home address. You can also select "What's On My Ballot" to see a sample ballot for your city and ward for today's election.

Remember, in order for your vote to be counted in the August 9th primary, you MUST present one of the forms of photo identification pictured below.


While two recent federal court decisions may have a major, positive impact on the ability of eligible voters to cast a ballot in the November general election and beyond, these court decisions WILL NOT apply to today's primary election.

For additional information on the photo ID you will need to present when casting a ballot, please see the links below.

All Eligible Wisconsin Voters
(Spanish Language version)

Senior Citizens
(Spanish Language version)

College Students

Click here for more on getting ready to vote in 2016!






If you do not have, or cannot find one of the required forms of ID for voting, you can cast a "provisional ballot." However, your provisional ballot will only be counted if you either return to the polling place with an acceptable photo ID before the polls close at 8:00 PM OR you present one of the required forms of photo ID to your municipal clerk by 4:00 PM on Friday, August 12th.

If you are not already registered to vote, you can register today at your polling place. You'll need to present a proof of residence document in order to register (this document can be shown electronically). Go here to see some examples of acceptable proof of residence documents.

Please share this information with family and friends, and be sure to cast your ballot today.

Your vote is your voice. Make it heard!



CONTACT:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)



Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI  53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org



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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

August 9th Primary Election Next Week Not Affected by Courts Striking Down Voter Suppression Measures



For Release: Wednesday - August 3, 2016

August 9th Primary Election Next Week
While Voter Suppression Laws in Wisconsin Struck Down by Courts

Vote Early this Week or Cast Your Ballot at the Polls Next Tuesday

Possible Court-Ordered Changes to Wisconsin Laws
Will Not Be in Effect for Primary Election

Federal Courts in Wisconsin over the past two weeks have struck down significant parts of Wisconsin's extreme and restrictive voter photo ID law and other measures that restricted early voting – including on weekends, as well as far more restrictive residency requirements and measures to make it far more difficult for college and university students to vote. The court decisions also characterized some of these voter suppression measures – enacted into law since 2011 – as intentionally racially discriminatory and unconstitutional.

These and other federal court decisions across the nation in the past ten days have dealt severe blows to hyper-partisan Republican voter suppression laws enacted to make it easier for Republicans to win elections.

But any changes that might occur to voting laws in Wisconsin will not be in effect for the August 9th primary election. It is important to remember that so there will be no confusion. Read here to understand the possible ramifications of the federal court decisions, which are opposed and will be appealed by the State Department of Justice.

Meanwhile, as we have said, the August 9th primary election will proceed with the voter suppression laws fully in effect.

The Wisconsin Election Commission predicts very low turnout for next week's primary election, with as few as 16% of Wisconsin's voting age adults expected to cast a ballot.

But even with the current voting restrictions in place for the primary, we should be able to do better than that.

In these turbulent times, we cannot afford to underestimate the importance of any election.

So don't sit this one out!

If you can't get to the polls next Tuesday, then vote early this week with an in-person absentee ballot at your Municipal Clerk's office – you can vote early until close of business or 5:00 PM (whichever is later) this Friday, August 5th.

When voting by in-person absentee ballot or at the polls on August 9th, you will still need to present one of the acceptable forms of photo ID pictured below. The recent federal court ruling allowing voters without acceptable photo IDs to cast their ballot by affidavit WILL NOT be in effect until the November general election.

If you're not sure if you are registered to vote, then go to MyVote.WI.gov and select "Register to vote," then enter your name and date of birth to confirm that you are registered at your current address.

If you're not already registered and want to vote in the August 9th primary, you can:

Register (and vote!) this week in your Municipal Clerk’s Office up until this Friday August 5th at 5:00 p.m. or close of business, whichever is later. You'll need to bring a proof of residence document to complete your registration (this document can be shown electronically). And while you're there, save time, bring along your acceptable photo ID and cast an early, in-person absentee ballot!

Or you can Register at the Polls on Election Day. You'll need to present a proof of residence document in order to register to vote (again, this document can be shown electronically) AND an acceptable photo ID to cast your ballot.

Here are some examples of acceptable proof of residence documents for voter registration.

Remember, in order for your vote to be counted in the August 9th primary, you MUST present one of the forms of photo identification pictured below. .


While two recent federal court decisions will have a major, positive impact on the ability of eligible voters to cast a ballot in the November general election and beyond, these court decisions WILL NOT apply to next Tuesday's primary election.

For additional information on the photo ID you will need to present when casting a ballot, please see the links below.

All Eligible Wisconsin Voters
(Spanish Language version)

Senior Citizens
(Spanish Language version)

College Students

Click here for more on getting ready to vote in 2016!









If we want to preserve and protect our democracy, we have to show up.

Get ready, take the time, and VOTE – and make sure every eligible voter you know does the same!




CONTACT:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)



Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI  53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org



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Monday, August 1, 2016

In the News - August 2016



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