What are your rights?

"Know Your Voting Rights- State by State" The ACLU is now displaying another interactive map the allows voters an outlet to learn more about their voting rights.

This map also provides voters with information about who to contact in their state for more information about voting rights.

"Alert Your Friends in Key States"

The ACLU says:

" Take ACTION ON 2008 BALLOT INITIATIVES"

Check out this interactive map on the ACLU's website to learn more about the "critical initiatives that will appear on November's ballot." States include:

Michigan, and Massachusetts

"Actions for Restoring America"

The ACLU seems to be launching a new campaign called "Actions for Restoring America" In reference to the Bush Administration. The ACLU posted on their website information about the organizations pending plan of action. These "recommendations" by the ACLU are separated into:

Part one --Day one

Part two -- First 100 Days

Part three --First Year

Check out the link to read more about the ACLU's plan

Feelings about Torture and McCain?

Through research on the ACLU's major issues I have found that one of them is the issue of human rights such as torture.

Appearing on the ACLU website is this notification:

"National Security: Torture is Wrong, Illegal and Un-American For sixty years, the United States has led the fight against torture around the world. The U.S. not only signed but helped to draft the international treaties and laws that banned torture after the atrocities of WWII. The U.S. spoke out against inhumane treatment of prisoners and offered refuge to victims of atrocities perpetrated by other governments. Now, betraying a long, proud tradition of humane detention and interrogation practices, the U.S. is using torture."

This is interesting to me considering that one of Senator John McCain's characteristics as a candidate is his experience with foreign relations, wars, and specifically torture.

The LA Times reports:

"Putting new pressure on the Bush administration, the House on Wednesday endorsed a measure pushed by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) to outlaw torture and other forms of cruel or degrading treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. "

Does the ACLU endorse John McCain or Barack Obama?

Convicted Criminals Voting Rights

Are those convicted of a crime elligible to vote?

According to the ACLU website, This question is puzzling to state elected oficcials accross the country. On October 1,2008, "Reports Show Widespread Confusion About The Voting Rights Of People With Criminal Records" was posted on the front page of the orginizations website.

The article states that this confusion has the potential to"endanger the voting rights of hundreds of thousands of eligible voters nationally in a presidential election year." Convicted criminals' rights vary from state to state depending on more than one factor. However a central factor that is considered in determining convicted criminals' rights are things such as the type of crime committed (midemeanor, felony, etc...).

There is some confusion about registration rules and rights for criminals, "For our democracy to function properly and effectively, everyone who has the right to vote should be given the chance to cast a ballot," said Erika Wood, Deputy Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center "It is unconscionable to allow a core constitutional value to be sacrificed because of misinformation."

Ohio's voters at risk?

"ACLU Asks Court To Allow All Ohio Registered Voters Access To Absentee Ballots (9/25/2008)"

A new federal lawsuit has been filed in northern Ohio in Madision County about the use of absentee ballots in the county.

See a copy of the complaint

Concern About Voting Ballots in Ohio

Back on December 17, 2007 Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, shared her concern about the voting ballots in the state and issued a report about the "shortcomings" of the states voting system.

Stewart v. Blackwell -- a case that occured after the 2000 Presidential Election, involved problems with voting methods: " punch-card and optical scanning and/or touch screen systems arbitrarily deprive voters of the equal protection of the law and the right to due process" according to the ACLU. The ACLU of Ohio won this case

At a meeting for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections' in December, the ACLU attorney suggested that specific technology could cause problems with lost ballots "due to overvoting and undervoting, particularly in communities with high numbers of people of color"

Check out the front page!

This week on front homepage to the ACLU an interesting proposal is made:
"ACLU Campaign Asks Voters to Vote Constitution First "

Backgrounder

ACLU-- The American Civil Liberties Union

• According to the ACLU website, the organization attempts to protect these rights:

First Amendment rights - freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin, right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake, and right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs

• Major Issues of the ACLU to name a couple are: The Patriot Act, Affirmative Action, Crosses in Federal Cemeteries, Ballot Access, Motor Voter Law, Campaign Financing Reform, Election Reform, Felon Enfranchisement, and Minority Voting Rights
• Major Advocates: Civil Liberty Activists
  Kurt Vonnegut, author
  Michael Dukakis, Democratic former Governor of Massachusetts
• The ACLU’s 2007 Financial Statement