I for one have been critical of the dismal performance of the youth of this country when it comes to making use of their constitutional right to vote...historically, this segment of the population is the least represented on Election Day...I am glad to see that the Student Government of CUNY Law School is taking a pro-active approach calling for a cancellation of classes so student can participate in various campaign and assist at polling sites...The following is a copy of their resolution...
Student Government - The City University of New York School of Law
WHEREAS the significance of the upcoming National Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, can hardly be overstated; and
WHEREAS the very slim majority held in the New York State Senate has much potential and relevance to New York residents in general, and
WHEREAS recent efforts of CUNY Law School students have resulted in the substantial mobilization of immigrant and minority voters in Senate District 15, by all accounts making this seat, and thus the control of New York State Senate, a close contest; and
WHEREAS close elections may create an incentive for some groups to discourage and otherwise subvert the vote of minority and immigrant voters to achieve a particular political outcome; and
WHEREAS voter intimidation and disenfranchisement has permeated previous elections in New York City including but not limited to these instances documented by the Asian American Legal Defense and Educated Fund:
In New York, identification is not required to vote, but during the 2004 Presidential Elections, 23% of all Asian American voters surveyed were asked to show ID. Of those, 69% were not required to do so under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which requires only a limited group of first-time voters to present ID.
During the 2004 elections, 79% of South Asian American voters in New York and eight additional states were asked to show ID to vote, even though they were not required by law to do so.
In a previous election in Queens an election coordinator, repeatedly referred to herself as a “U.S. citizen,” and directed other poll workers to “keep an eye” on South Asian voters, who she said, unlike her, were not “born here.”
In a previous election a voter in Queens was asked to show her naturalization certificate to prove to the poll worker her eligibility to vote
In a previous election South Asians in the Bronx attempting to cast their ballots were called “terrorists.”
WHEREAS poll monitoring should be a constant check on the democratic process, and a looming presence in democratic societies, in good times and in bad, and
WHEREAS CUNY Law School has a demonstrated a long standing commitment to serve the public, and has a well established presence with the community of Queens County, and
WHEREAS participation in U.S. elections has traditionally been far more burdensome to working Americans- and has no doubt interfered with the ability of many concerned citizens to contribute to the democratic process, in either voting, poll monitoring or other capacities- by virtue of Election Day being on a work day, and
WHEREAS Tuesdays are notoriously the busiest days for the majority of CUNY Law Students, and
WHEREAS CUNY Law Students are actively organizing and engaging in a host of election related activities beyond State Senate District 15, and
WHEREAS Election Day is an official New York State holiday;
ENACTED That the CUNY School of Law Student Government resolves to:
Call on the leadership of CUNY Law School to officially cancel all classes on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008,
Call on student organizations to endorse and take part in the effort to organize a massive poll monitor/observer turnout in Senate District 15 on Election Day,
Encourage students to use the day in furtherance of their civic duties, in particular, voting, organizing, and poll monitoring, preferably in Senate District 15,
Call on the leadership of CUNY Law School, and in particular, Dean Anderson, to publicize the decision to cancel classes, which would embolden the Senate District 15 poll monitoring effort by:
Increasing awareness of and participation in the effort by students and student organizations,
Creating a deterrent to any parties contemplating the use of illegal and illegitimate methods to discourage and prevent voting by eligible citizens, and
Making a bold statement and a good example of civic responsibility.
