NOTA can split the Dems vote!

This what Jessie was telling us we should do.

"It is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory." - Bruce Lee
http://www.bmvgroupinc.com/ Never tie your shoes again. Ever! While helping me get to St.Paul!

Today, when a voter does not like the candidates in a particular race, she can hold her nose and vote for the lesser of two evils, abstain in that race, or refuse to vote altogether. An increasing and alarming number of Americans are staying home. Despite the most aggressive and accessible voter registration programs in our nation's history, fewer and fewer eligible Americans are participating in our elections.
Binding None of the Above (NOTA) provides a way for voters to register a protest vote on election day. Binding NOTA means that if "None of the Above" wins a plurality---more votes than any other candidate---a special election is called with new candidates. The candidates beaten by "None of the Above" cannot appear on the ballot in the subsequent special election(s).

Binding NOTA provides a way to tally an explicit protest vote. It gives citizens a veto and a real choice. They no longer are stuck having to select the lesser of two evils. They do not have to pick from a slate of the unworthy, the unknown, and the unopposed. They can veto all the candidates presented to them and demand a new election with better candidates.

It is a simple idea that applies to all elections, from the smallest local voting district all the way up through state and federal elections. For example, if NOTA had won in the 1996 presidential election in Washington State, a new special election would have been called---without Bill Clinton and Bob Dole on the ballot. It is conceivable that Washington's nine electors would have been pledged to neither Clinton nor Dole, but to a different candidate.

Politicians, knowing that the electorate can register a NOTA vote, will be more responsive to their constituents. They will also be less likely to engage in negative campaign tactics, such as name-calling, innuendo, character assassination, and dirty tricks. An angry and alienated electorate with the ability to vote NOTA can remove both candidates from the running. With NOTA, candidates would have to give the voters a reason to vote for them, not just against the other side. Even unopposed candidates could lose if the voters deem them unworthy. NOTA would give party leaders an incentive to endorse candidates based on merit.

NOTA would have given voters a valid protest vote in some recent notable elections. Oregon Republicans in the 1996 primary could have vetoed the unopposed candidate Rep. Wes Cooley, after allegations he misled people about his military record and the date of his marriage. Illinois voters in 1994 would not have had to choose between Gus Savage, who "did not hesitate to play the race card," and Rep. Mel Reynolds, who was elected and later convicted after charges of obstructing justice were made public against him. Louisiana voters in 1991 could have rejected both former KKK leader David Duke and the ethically-challenged Edwin Edwards (in a race dubbed "the wizard versus the lizard"). NOTA gives voters an additional tool when late-breaking information discloses that the candidates are not worthy to hold office.

Gary Hoover of the Free Congress Foundation wrote, "Why should citizens only be able to vote 'yes' for someone or abstain? In the act of voting, a citizen not only chooses someone to govern, but also gives consent to be governed. Sometimes a voter may want to withhold consent." The political scientist John J. Pitney, Jr. echoed this view. "NOTA would secure the right to say no. If free government is really based on the consent of the governed, it follows that the people should have a clear way of withholding consent from the unworthy, the unknown, or the unopposed."

A non-binding NOTA measure has been in effect in Nevada since 1976, where in 20 years NOTA has won a plurality just four times. Don Mello, the Nevada legislator who authored the bill, noted its positive impact on Nevada politics. It is, he said, "one way for the people to tell the power structure they are not happy. If two rascals are running for the same office, and neither belongs there, why would you want to vote for either one? If you don't vote at all, your vote is not tallied." A vote for NOTA, on the other hand, is recorded.

Given the rare number of times NOTA won a plurality of votes in the last two decades, the cost of the required additional elections will likely be small to the taxpayers. And when NOTA does win, the extra election is a small price to pay to prevent the election of unscrupulous and unqualified candidates. It is a good investment in democracy that gives the people a real choice and lets them know their votes are important.

NOTA is a low-risk, tested, constitutional measure that has broad public support, garnering endorsements from such diverse organizations as the Wall Street Journal, the Manchester (NH) Union Leader, the Boston Globe, Ralph Nader, and many good government groups. It will not by itself solve the problems of low voter turnout, negative campaigning, and the dominance of campaign financing by special interest groups, but it is a good start.

"It is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory." - Bruce Lee
http://www.bmvgroupinc.com/ Never tie your shoes again. Ever! While helping me get to St.Paul!

Statement of Principle: All legitimate consent requires the ability to withhold consent; therefore, the legitimate consent of voters requires they be able to withhold their consent in an election to office.

Statement of Purpose: We are working to enact a Voter Consent law in all 50 states, preferably by adding after the candidate list for each elective office the following permanent line, or otherwise to assist in the enactment of Voter Consent Ballot Options.

"It is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory." - Bruce Lee
http://www.bmvgroupinc.com/ Never tie your shoes again. Ever! While helping me get to St.Paul!

Help us NOW for a better choice in the FUTURE.
Together we can do this, and it will make a difference.

There are many things you can do to help enact NOTA based Voter Consent Laws, some of which are listed below. While we face many profoundly difficult obstacles, we have a compellingly simple objective: enact Voter Consent laws that allow voters to withhold their consent in elections to office, because giving legitimate consent requires the ability to withhold consent. Voter Consent laws can enacted and they will make a difference. However you decide to help, we thank you for truly being a Voter for None of the Above.
► Help Establish a National Standard for Withholding Consent to an Election to Office by Writing-In "None of the Above".
If you find yourself not voting for an office because no candidate is acceptable, then we suggest you consider writing-in "None of the Above" rather than not voting or using some other write-in. See: Writing-In None of the Above.

► Signing e-petition
You can help enact Voter Consent laws by signing our national e-Petition.

► Contributing Information and Political Support
You can help spread the word about Voter Consent laws by:

Writing-In "None of the Above" when you vote.

Informing yourself about NOTA/Voter Consent laws.

Speaking to your friends and colleagues.

Writing letters about Voter Consent to your local, regional, and national newspapers and magazines whenever a story or editorial presents an opportunity.

Calling radio and TV shows about Voter Consent.

Calling radio and TV stations and suggesting they do a story on Voter Consent.

Writing op-ed articles about Voter Consent and contacting the editors of newspapers and magazines suggesting they cover the issue.

Speaking to other members of organizations to which you belong that may take an interest in helping enact Voter Consent laws.

Getting together with others to pass a Voter Consent law in your state.

Voting a write-in "None of the Above" if you decide not to vote for any candidate for an particular office.

Telling candidates and office holders their support for Voter Consent is important to you.

Using the ideas presented here in your conversations, letters or calls.

Remembering to include our WEB page www.nota.org when you communicate with others.

► Contributing Ideas and Experience
If you want to participate in the Voters for None of the Above's forum group, please notify our list server. WE NEED SOMEONE TO HOST OR OTHERWISE SET UP A NOTA/VOTER CONSENT LAW FORUM. CONTACT US TO HELP

► Contributing Services
If you or your organization have a skill or resources you think would be useful and want to help by contributing services let us know. We are particularly in need of help in the following areas: legal expertise to help draw up legislation and petitions; petition effort organizing including state level organizers; fund raising including arranging for us to accept credit card contributions, public relations including distribution of e-mail press releases and advertising; researchers; and, signature gatherers. If you want to start a Voter Consent effort in your state, Voters for None of the Above will help, and other resources are available as well.

►Your contribution helps enact Voter Consent laws.
Currently we are concentrating on enacting a Voter Consent law in Massachusetts, which enacts a permanent, binding None of the Above ballot option. We have written and submitted the legislation for this session. Legislation Text.

Voters for None of the Above is an all volunteer organization which pays no salaries, so all of your contribution goes toward paying the expense of putting a None of the Above option on the ballot by enacting Voter Consent laws.

"It is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory." - Bruce Lee
http://www.bmvgroupinc.com/ Never tie your shoes again. Ever! While helping me get to St.Paul!