GET OUT TO VOTE Campaign -- GO TO VOTE!

Burlington is organizing a campaign to inspire all voters to go to the polls in November.

Traditionally, GOTheVote has been defined as activity by campaigns to target their candidates, or their party voters, to get them to the polls. At best, GOTV consisted of personal phone calls and emails to select voters before the election to remind them to vote, and on election day party/candidate poll cross-checkers id their candidate's voters who have not yet voted and someone calls them. At worst, there has been resistance to or lack of enthusiasm for community-wide pre-election activity that reaches out to all voters. The exception has been efforts by the Secretary of State (Your Vote is Your Voice) and the League of Women Voters.

North End Voters InSpired has joined with all-wards' NPAs, the Center for Community and Neighborhood, and the League of Women Voters to inspire all voters in the City of Burlington to vote. Together we are organizing Burlington ward by ward, forming teams to register, inform, and inspire all voters to VOTE. Registration and information are wasted if people don't follow-through and vote in their ward -- early, absentee, or at the Polls by marking a ballot or by phone.

NEVIS will continue to focus on Wards 4 and 7. Our NPAs' CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY - VOTE banner was carried from Battery Park to City Hall in Burlington's first annual pre-election VOTE Parade on Aug.21. The banner was displayed on North Avenue at the Ward 4 polling place on election day. NPA sandwich boards went out at 6AM with VOTE TODAY signs on them.

The Get Out To VOTE campaign is aimed at one goal -- inspiring people to vote by creating a culture of confidence and celebraton that our votes count, our candidates are worthy, and democracy is worth voting for! Each ward will strive for a personal best.

We praise candidates and supporters who create a colorful, personal campaign presence waving on the street and standing at the polls on election day. The signs however, do not tell people when/where to vote. Signs would have to be personalized by town, and in Burlington by ward, which seems like a good excuse for pizza parties!

City Hall Open for Early Voting, Saturday Aug. 21

CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY - VOTE! parade ended up at City Hall to promote early voting. The Clerk's office was open from 9-Noon, Saturday before the primary, to accommodate people who prefer voting on the weekend.

So what did the sign in front of City Hall say? It said: WARD 4 VOTE HERE on TUESDAY. What??  Is the sign telling people from Ward 4 that they can't vote at City Hall early? Or that Ward 4 is voting at City Hall on Tuesday, not at St. Mark's? Think this sign might be creating some confusion? Can the City Clerk READ?

WARD 4 VOTE HERE TUESDAY???

  

Well, ok. We covered up the misinformation until Larry got some tape and taped white paper over WARD 4. TUEDAY was covered by one ofour signs: "YOUR VOTE COUNTS."

League of Women Voters brought their wonderful enthusiasm and dedication to voting. 

Refreshments at City Hall

The goal of the parade was to remind people to vote -- early at City Hall, and Tuesday at the polling place in their Ward. 

Tuesday, Aug 24, 

Ward 4 votes at St. Mark's Family and Youth Center!

Thanks to City Councilor and CCAN

MORE ON VOTING AT MILLER CENTER
By Vincent  Dober, City Councilor - Ward 7, Heineberg Road , doberv@burlingtontelecom.net
Thu, 19 August 2010

This is to address the Helen Hossley and Theresa's comments about voting at the Miller Center... both gave opposite views.

Helen and Theresa, I have done an on-line survey and I have been walking door-to-door asking this question. There is more than 80% of people I spoke to that would like the election poll, back at Hunt. Most of the 80%, were parents that wanted the change back to Hunt stating they think it's important that our youth should see, their parents / their friends parents, voting... "This is mentoring our youth"

Now to the on-line survey -- the results were 82% in favor of moving the voting poll back to Hunt. Some of the same comments expressed to me by email for the online survey were similar to the door-to-door comments. You can see the results on my webpage http://www.dober4councilor.com (upper left hand corner.. Survey Results).

I can't imagine why Helen would assume the parking problem was all due to politicians since she was inside. I can assure each of you that the politicians all parked either at their homes, as far back of the parking lot as possible or on adjacent streets on election day. I can say Paul Decellas parked at his house... I parked in front of his house and I believe Greg Jenkins was dropped off, so I don't know where that's coming from.

Parking at the Miller Center is at least half of what is at the Hunt, that is the problem. The ball park field is not available (that is private property and usually chained after baseball season and during the March election it has snow mounds blocking the entrance).

I attended the NEVIS meetings to try to induce more voting participation and this was one of the mentioned items. I personally watch voters leave in frustration and not vote. That is not acceptable!

Since I am still polling data door-to-door; I believe, I will have a resolution for Ward 7 voting to move back to Hunt Middle School this fall to take affect for March election. I hope this helps you understand what's been happening since March 2010. Next steps: 1) CREATE RESOLUTION 2) Submit to Board of Civil Authorities (City Council)

Any questions give me a call -- 865-4907. Thanks to both of you for your comments.

Vince

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North End NPA Creates VOTE Banner for Polls and Parade

CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY BANNER-MAKING AND PARADE AUG. 21
By Jenny Davis, CEDO - City of Burlington, College St, jdavis@ci.burlington.vt.us
Wed, 18 August 2010

Young and old alike are invited to celebrate our right to vote by joining a sidewalk parade to City Hall on August 21. The event will start at 9:30am, in the community room at the Burlington Police Dept, with the chance for everyone to create your own banner and/or sign to carry in the parade. The group will display these works of art during a celebratory parade to City Hall that will leave Battery Park at 10:30am. There will be refreshments awaiting the group at City Hall. All you need to bring is a music-maker (kazoos, drums, cymbals - anything you are able to carry during the sidewalk parade) and your enthusiasm for our right to vote. Wear your most festive red, white and blue! Parents: what a fun way to teach your kids about the election and democracy.

This event is sponsored by the city's Neighborhood Planning Assemblies, the Vermont League of Women Voters, and the Center for Community and Neighborhoods. For more info: 865-7172, jdavis@ci.burlington.vt.us.

Please note that the City's Clerk-Treasurer's office is offering additional hours on August 21 from 9am - noon for anyone who wants to come and vote early for August 24 primary election.

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Parade to Celebrate Democracy and Voting, Aug 21

Aug 21, the Saturday before the primary election, you are invited to meet up in BATTERY PARK at 10AM to walk or bike to city hall. The Clerk's office is open for voting until noon, and people can vote at this time if they wish. Other activities are impromptu soap box for speeches, street performances, juggling, music, and whatever comes. Neighborhood Planning Assemblies in Burlington encourage people to vote in the primary election on Aug 24. Candidates are invited to the assemblies to meet residents and talk about issues before the election, and the PARADE is a grand finale.

Details on Meet Up ! 

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