Last year, we began a conversation about Minnesota's election system. This year we continue at the State Capitol as legislators begin to consider important changes to state election law. MUUSJA and our voting rights allies are advocating that the legislature pass both early voting and restoration of voting rights this session.
Early voting allows voters to come into a local election official's office in the days leading up to an election and cast a vote in person that day (proposed House File 334, no Senate bill yet). Restoration of voting rights restores the right to vote upon release from incarceration (proposed Senate File 107, no House bill yet).
Please call or write your state legislator and let them know why
you support early voting and restoration of voting rights.
Messages to share with legislators on early voting:
* Minnesota should modernize its system to provide more choice and convenience to voters.
* 32 other states now offer early voting, while Minnesota does not.
* Early voting saves money by reducing the number of absentee ballots. * Local election officials support early voting.
Messages to share with legislators on voting rights restoration:
* If someone convicted of a crime has served their time and is living in the community again, it is only fair to restore their voting rights so they have the opportunity to make a positive contribution and participate in our democracy. North Dakota and 12 other states have adopted this model.
* Current Minnesota election law creates confusion for citizens who have had a criminal conviction. As a result, some vote when they should not, and others who are lawfully allowed to participate don't. Allowing citizens to vote unless they are currently incarcerated makes it less confusing for both voters and election judges.
MacArthur Flournoy, who served as the Faith Director during the successful Maryland marriage equality campaign in 2011-12! A massed choir will debut a new composition written just for this occasion!
