citizens' rights

The Democratic Party is the party of the people, holding a philosophy that all citizens deserve representation. We believe all citizens to have the power to positively influence the direction of the country, regardless of home ownership, income, physical disability, geography, reasons that some Republican's are trying to use to limit participation in elections. (NY Times Article, YouTube Explanation)  The most challenging right to exercise is the right to run for office. Consider the broad range of options your local Democrats provide from precinct captain to State Representative of your area. Get info on becoming a candidate.

your responsibility

Voting for government leaders is a responsibility. It requires time to read about issues, time which might be used watching television or going to sporting events, for example. It is our responsibility to seek alternative views and strive for an open mind when listening to other people's perspectives. Constructive conversation requires respectful and factual explanations of our opinion. It's really the only way to arrive at understanding and agreement on complex political and social issues; and it is the democratic way. 

resources to get informed and protect voting rights

See how others are voting, understand the electoral process, rules for setting voting districts, get an absentee vote, links for children, about election fraud. We have collected them for you into a single page. New Election Day Restrictions - What citizens can and cannot do at election sites. Report voter suppression - Threatening voters, obstructing vehicles into a polling area or entrance to a polling place, and harassment of voters to deliberately disrupt the voting process is illegal. Report it. Volunteer in your local or nearby precincts to help get out the vote.

Publius.com - Perhaps the coolest voter's tool yet. Type in your name and you'll see your personal voting info -- where you need to vote and what elections you can vote in, even an image of the ballot you'll see on November 4th.

Check Your Registration - If you don't trust Publius, you can always check your voter registration status at this Secretary of State website. See also links on left for volunteering at polling sites.

Clinton County Voting Precincts - .pdf of where to vote organized alphabetically by Township. See also County Election results for detailed precinct voting results.

Boundary Maps - for various Michigan political races

Electoral College - Current polling data by state and congressional districts, up-to-the-minute maps & graphs

Vote 411.org Register to vote online, find your polling place, lists of local candidates and ballot measures

Redistricting Rules - Used during the process to define voting precinct boundaries in 2001 with links to on-going federal and congressional guidelines.  Read more about the importance of the 2010 election for determining future elections. (Public Affairs Research Council.pdf  and MichiganLiberal Blog) Bottom line? If Republicans win in the Michigan House of Representatives, they will get to set the boundaries of voting districts to their advantage.

Overseas Voting - Vote from abroad and absentee voting

Voter Fraud - Collection of links regarding voter fraud including news reports. See also CampaignLegalCenter.org . To report voter fraud, voter suppression, or general election fraud, contact your local clerk .

Stop Voter Suppression - Volunteer now to help stop voter suppression before it starts in your community. See also SourceWatch for Michigan specific updates.

Election results - Michigan Department of State reports.