Category: Mason Votes

Common Cause Student Fellow Opening

POSITION AVAILABLE: Student Fellow
LOCATIONS: VA
REPORTS TO: Youth Outreach Coordinator

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Common Cause is seeking campus fellows with excellent organizing, outreach, communication and programming skills to assist in the implementation of our “Greater Cause” fellowship program in several states. Fellows will support Common Cause by working on campus to organize youth educational events and engage students in nonpartisan election activities. Fellows will also have the opportunity to assist with current Common Cause issue campaigns including but not limited to the issue areas of corporate accountability, money and politics, government accountability and election reform.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist in developing a campus outreach plan for your specific campus, help design and implement recruitment tactics to build a volunteer base on campus, serve as a liaison from your specific campus to Common Cause, execute a set number of “frappe n’ raps” in your community (informal coffee shop style discussion series), find creative ways to share policy information with peers, open and maintain communication between campus administration, organizations, faculty and Common Cause, and recruit volunteers for the national polling place participation program.

QUALIFICATIONS: Experience with organizing especially among Millennials; Basic writing skills; Any student in good standing is eligible and all majors are welcome. Fellows will receive a stipend. Course credit may be available depending on administrative rules and restrictions. Working knowledge of social media tools including Facebook and Twitter.

TO APPLY: Please submit resume, cover letter to Director of Human Resources at [email protected] & [email protected], and include VA STUDENT FELLOW in the subject line; or fax to 202.355.7546. No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to respond as soon as possible. For more information, please visit: www.commoncause.org.

The U.S. Supreme Court and the 2012 Election

Photo by: Hickydoo on flickr.com

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court heard arguments for Fisher V. University of Texas, a case in which the decision will either render Affirmative Action constitutional or not, possibly altering the college admissions process completely. This exemplifies the substantial role Supreme Court Justices play in American society; and with three members of the Court in their late seventies or eighties and retirement on the horizon, the implications of this presidential race on case law is immense.

Whoever wins the 2012 presidential election will likely be able to appoint at least one person to the Supreme Court; which is currently split between four Justices that lean liberal, four that lean conservative and one swing vote. The next appointee may very well swing the balance of the Court, which will have major consequences regarding jurisprudence in the United States.

The U.S. Supreme Court determines whether government action is constitutional, making it an immensely powerful institution with in the American government. The next court may face issues regarding anything from immigration to the right to privacy. Whoever the winning Presidential Candidate is, may be the difference between the overturning of decisions like that of Roe V. Wade, deeming abortion constitutional, and not.

Though the Supreme Court appointments are not often a factor many people contemplate when deciding whom to vote for come November, the implications are great. The person that assumes office in January 2013 will likely be able to determine the direction of the Court for many years to come.

Election Officers Needed for Fairfax County – Pays $100

Be an Election Day Officer in Fairfax County

Long lines at the polls. Confused voters with no one to help answer their questions. People leaving the polls without casting a ballot.

These scenes could be common in Virginia if an urgent need for election officers (also known as poll workers) is not met. Fairfax County is 500 election officers short, and the last training opportunity for election officers is Tuesday.

General Registrar Quinn has reached out to Common Cause and our coalition partners with strong warnings that the election officer shortfall is at a crisis stage. Let’s make it easy for all Virginians to vote on November 6.

To be an election officer, you must be a registered Virginia voter who does not work directly for an elected office holder.

Election officers can work a half or full day, and are paid about $100 for the day. You don’t need to be a resident of Fairfax County to sign up. If you can work, you can apply by calling: (703) 324-4735. More info at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/working.htm

Application: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/training/eoapprev2012.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact Common Cause’s VA Election Protection Volunteer Coordinator, Michael Lore at [email protected].

Election 2012: Discourse & Electoral Processes

Project Vote Smart Candidate Match Tool

Electoral College and Polling Analysis: 10/10/2012

After Gov. Mitt Romney’s strong performance in the First Presidential debate last week, he has dramatically reversed his polling deficit he had experienced during the month of September.

National polls across the spectrum and across multiple polling and media outlets have confirmed a Romney bump of around five points. This brings the race to a statistical tie, with just 27 days remaining until Election Day. Gallup put the race at 47-47%.

The state-by state polls contain even more good news for Team Romney. Before the debate, Romney was put in the position of needing to win four states to get to 270: Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and New Hampshire. After the debate, once Obama leaning states have moved to “toss up” status. New Hampshire and Ohio being the most important changes. Also, once Obama leaners Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are now toss-ups. Essentially Romney’s debate performance has successfully expanded the board of states being contested. This forces the Obama campaign to spend time and money in these states to make sure they stay in their column.

Of course, if one debate can cause this dramatic a change, so too can the second debate change back. If President Obama’s performance improves, he may regain his edge in the vital voters categories of trust. After the debate, Romney gained major support for those who are looking for the candidate they most trust to handle the economy. Romney’s personal favorable ratings improved as well after the debate. This may take a hit if Obama brings up his comments about “the 47%” or his record at Bain Capital.

The bottom line is that this race is now a pure toss-up thanks to one debate. Another may decide who gets an edge going forward. One thing is certain, the debates do indeed play a major role in the American people’s impression of the two men seeking the Oval Office.

Voter Registration Deadline October 15, 2012

Prof. Warren Decker CSPAN Interview, Pres. Debating Styles

GMU Professor Warren Decker, Communications Dept. and Debate Director, participated in a Oct. 1, 2012 CSPAN video examining the debating styles of Pres. Obama and Gov. Romney.

Here is the CSPAN video description:

Professors Alan Schroeder and Warren Decker examined the debating styles of President Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney, who were to meet the following evening for the first of three debates. White House correspondent Laura Meckler discussed the candidates’ preparation for the debates. Professor John Sides talked about the relevance of presidential debates. C-SPAN archival video from past presidential debates was shown.

Professor Schroeder participated by video link from Boston and Ms. Meckler and Professor Sides from the C-SPAN newsroom.

Kritical Konversations Forum took place at Mason

Kritical Konversation took place in the JC Oct. 8, 2012

Broadside, George Mason University’s student newspaper, featured a story about the Kritical Konversation program that took place Sept. 24. Here is an excerpt:

On Monday, Sept. 24, the members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Student Government, Mason Votes and the Lead Office came together to conduct a voter’s forum for the student body. Entitled Kritical Konversation, the event took place in the Johnson Center atrium.

Read the full article here.