Two Presidential Candidates Have Pledged to Challenge Suspicious Elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2008, Santa Cruz, California
Contact: Emily Levy, (831) 429-8946, info@StandingForVoters.org
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader has now joined Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney in taking the Standing For Voters 'Super Pledge' offered by StandingForVoters.org, a project of VelvetRevolution.us.
"Candidates taking the pledge are telling voters, 'We ask you to stand for us as candidates, and you can trust us to stand for you when it comes to demanding an election with integrity," says Standing For Voters Project Coordinator Emily Levy. "While some challenges to elections can be mounted by voters, others must be initiated by candidates themselves. We're asking candidates to prepare now to Stand For Voters. We'd like to see all the presidential candidates on board."
Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has yet taken the Standing For Voters pledge. "In 2004, John Kerry conceded prematurely," says Levy. "Millions of votes in Ohio remained uncounted, and the outcome of the election hinged on Ohio's electoral votes. A repeat is unacceptable. The voting public needs to know that the candidates take seriously the issues of disenfranchisement and electronic manipulation of votes, and the need for a true basis for voter confidence in the announced election results."
The pledge includes a 'no early concessions' clause, as well as a commitment to challenge suspicious elections. The November 4 general election already faces numerous court challenges, including lawsuits by both the Democratic and Republican parties over voter registration issues.
Candidate pledges are being sought and posted online by StandingForVoters.org. In addition to Nader and McKinney, candidates for Congress and for local offices have pledged. Notably, two candidates pursuing posts as election officials, have signed onto the campaign: Jason Osgood is running for Washington Secretary of State; Ellen Brodsky is running for Supervisor of Elections in notorious Broward County, Florida.
Voters are encouraged to approach candidates directly to ask for their pledge. StandingForVoters.org offers tips at their website about how to reach candidates. "Many candidates I've spoken with are eager to be offered the opportunity to sign," says Levy, "but until voters ask them, they're unaware of the opportunity -- and sometimes even of the problems with our election system."
Candidates and voters can find out more about challenging elections, and candidates can pledge at StandingForVoters.org. Groups are invited to endorse the project by emailing info@StandingForVoters.org. Current endorsing organizations include VotersUnite.Org and Progressive Democrats of America.
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