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PEG 6th Congressional District Newsletter 375

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Project 2025 is a document representing a far-right vision for America. It was prepared by conservative, white Christian groups under right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation, who say, “it is not enough for conservatives to win elections. If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left, we need both a governing agenda and the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on Day One of the next conservative Administration.”

Developed by powerful allies and supporters of Donald Trump, it aims to be implemented if Trump wins a second term in 2024. Frustrated by limited changes during his first term, this group blames government bureaucracy and federal agencies. Over the past four years, they have crafted this plan to bypass checks and balances, allowing the implementation of regressive policies without Congressional or federal agency involvement. The goal is to entrench these policies deeply, making them difficult to reverse for generations. Remember that the people he will put in place now understand how Washington functions and they can hit the ground running. Read more from Red, Wine, and Blue. 

Concerns about Project 2025 are justified. Let this motivate you. We have the power to choose between the next president as an extremist, authoritarian vision under Project 2025, or the democratic vision we support. Protect our democracy.

Here are some things you can do:

• Talk about this and the importance of voting in 2024 with your family and friends.
• Emphasize how this will strip people of the rights they cherish.
• Compare a presidency under Biden versus Trump.
• Participate in some of the groups mentioned in this newsletter, or other action groups.
• Need some summer reading? Check out the full Project 2025 document here. It’s a mere 887 pages!

Events and GOTV (Getting Out the Vote)

#VoteReady

You Can Vote In-Person Even If You Have an Absentee Ballot. Join the Permanent Mail Ballot List!

With an absentee ballot, you’ve always been able to vote at your local clerk’s office during the 40 days before an election. Now, you can also take that absentee ballot to your early voting site or Election Day polling place and feed it right into a tabulator!

So go ahead and cover all of your bases by joining the permanent mail ballot list so that an absentee ballot (not just an application to get one) is automatically sent to you before every election. Apply here, and toward the end of the form you can choose to join the list. This way, if you’re unexpectedly unable to go to your polling place on election day, you, an immediate family member, or roommate can take the absentee ballot to a secure drop box.

The One Campaign: Biden/Harris’s Office in Washtenaw CountyWork directly with the Biden/Harris campaign. Please get in touch with Grace to volunteer: (313) 439-5990 ghaubert@2024victory.com.

Register Michiganders to Vote with Field Team 6Please join Field Team 6 to contact unregistered likely Michigan Democrats… and turn them into registered Michigan Democratic voters! Sign up to:Write PostcardsSend TextsPhonebank Other volunteer opportunities

America at a Crossroads Virtual Series. Wednesdays at 8 pm ET
July 1. Lynn Vavreck, Professor of American Politics, UCLA, and Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, with Larry Mantle. “A Post Presidential Debate Debrief.” Register here.

Volunteer with the Washtenaw County Democratic Party 

WCDP says: “It is a crucial year for Washtenaw Dems to engage voters, hear from them, and provide information, and support Democrats all down the ballot.” It’s also fun! Get involved by entering your info here and/or through the links below.

• Thursday, July 4: Participants and Gear Coordinator at the Ypsilanti Fourth of July Parade. Late morning / early afternoon; time TBA.
• June 29-July 30:  First lit drop. This will be oriented toward voter education, including the permanent mail ballot list and early voting.  
• Thursday, July 4: March, drive, or play music in Ann Arbor’s downtown Fourth of July Parade. Morning; time TBA.
• Saturdays, July 13 and beyond: Staff the WCDP table at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. 9:00–11:00 AM or 11:00 AM–1:00 pm
• Saturday, July 27: Annual Garden Party Fundraiser (rain date is July 28)

Hear from Attorney General Dana Nessel, enjoy hosts Anne and Chris Savage’s beautiful organic garden, eat scrumptious homemade food, and connect with fellow Democrats. Register here to attend or to sponsor another attendee. All funds raised help reach voters and increase local turnout, including: outreach activities, voter guides, poll greeting cards, keeping the office open, and more. 3:00–6:00 pm (remarks begin at 4:00)

• August 26–September 4: Targeted post-it campaign in student areas focusing on voter registration.
• September 14–21: Voter Guide bundling and distribution to Area Captains.
• September 21–October 5: Voter Guide distribution. This is a truly massive countywide effort, which is timed for shortly after voters receive absentee ballots.
• October 10–31: Ballot chase via texting for Democratic-leaning voters who haven’t cast their ballots.
• October 26–November 5: Early voting and Election Day activities including poll watching and poll greeting.

There are also many more WCDP volunteer opportunities. Tell them of your interest here.

• Volunteers who want to meet and talk to voters
• People who like to work behind the scenes
• Leaders who can mobilize other volunteers to reach voters
• And more!

Lastly, WCDP encourages volunteering with partner organizations. Check here for a broad range of activities.

Visit the PEG Events Page for more upcoming events at www.equalityingov.org/events!

More Things to read, watch, and view

Do You Know if Your Representative Is Anti-Choice?

According to Michigan Secretary of State records, the following candidates for office signed the 2019 Anti-Choice petition; this Michigan Right to Life petition garnered nearly 400,000 signatures in an effort to ban the dilatation and extraction procedure. While the petition failed, it is important to note that the following candidates signed it with the intention to limit reproductive rights.

• MI House District 23 – David Stamp [R] – anti-choice
• MI House District 32 – Martin Church [R] – anti-choice
• MI House District 32 – James Chapman [R] – anti-choice
• MI House District 32 – Jonathan Hoover [R] – anti-choice
• MI House District 48 – Tawn Beliger [R] – anti-choice
• County Commissioner – District 3 – Sean Egmon [R] – anti-choice
• County Commissioner – District 6 – Mike Eller [R] – anti-choice

Good News

Increased Transportation – and Donation! – Options for Voters

Did you know that until a few months ago, it was illegal to pay for someone else’s ride to the polls in Michigan? But last November, Public Act 185 of 2023 amended the law and voters are now allowed to be transported to polling places in hired transportation paid for by someone else. While the law did not prohibit churches, businesses, or voter advocacy groups from.

Wouldn’t It Be Great If All Voting Info Was Easy to Find? Now It Is!

MIvoter.org (currently in “early demonstration” mode) is a new one-stop shop for voter information and post-primary endorsements from the Democratic party. It helps answer all those thorny, situation-specific questions about how and when to vote, as well as whom the Washtenaw County Democratic Party endorses for less well known races. Developed by a WCDP volunteer team, it’s being adopted by the Michigan Democratic Party statewide!

And here’s an invaluable non-partisan resource for all information about voting in our state: bookmark Michigan.gov/vote to find answers to innumerable questions! On the national level, an excellent resource is the US Election Assistance Commission’s website.

Write us at equalityingovinfo@gmail.com if you would like help create our weekly newsletter OR if you would like to be a guest contributor! It’s fun and no ongoing commitment is required.