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January 5, 2002 AMA Bay Area forum on election 2002 By Abdus Sattar Ghazali NEWARK, CA: The American Muslim Alliance Election Kickoff was the topic of discussion of the AMA Bay Area monthly forum held on Jan. 5, 2002, at the Chandni Restaurant, Newark.The speakers at the forum were: Ms. Alex Starr, President, League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City; Mr. Robert Wiekoski, Co-Chair of the League of Women Voters and Ms. Hiba Nimr, a Law Graduate.Dr. Agha Saeed, AMA National Chair, also spoke at the monthly educational forum. Ms. Samina Faheem, Chief Coordinator of the AMA Bay Area, introduced, Mr. , who is contesting congressional election from District 19th. He said that he is concentrating on such issues as education, energy transportation, health and taxation. Ms. Alexandra Starr, President of the League of Women Voters told the audience that the League encourages citizens participation in the government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Addressing the monthly educational forum of the American Muslim Alliance, Ms. Starr said that founded in 1920, the League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that works at the local, regional, state and national levels, paralleling the levels of government. There are over 70 local League organizations within California. The League is an organization of women and men who want to make a difference in the political future of our country. It is a diversified, nonpartisan, political group with a long-standing tradition of educating voters. Ms Starr said that the League never supports or opposes any political party or candidate. It advocates only on issues that members have studied and come to consensus on. In an era of proliferating and powerful special interests, the League's advocacy in the public interest is increasingly recognized as an essential voice of democracy. The League sponsors candidate forums for local elections in the Tri-City Area. It often works with other community organizations to get wider participation. Before state elections, members of the speakers’ bureau are available to explain the state ballot propositions to interested groups. It also produces a local cable program “Voter Matters,” which covers both issues of local concern and interviews with local citizens about topics of interest. Mr. Robert Wiekoski, a lawyer and Co-Chair of the League of Women Voters, said that the League is an organization of women and men and urged the audience to support the League’s mission by joining it as a paid member. He said that the League’s primary purpose is to support the democratic process. “It is involved in educating the people about the political and electoral process.” March 2002 Primary have been changed The rules for voting in the March Primary have changed. Once again being registered with a political party will make a difference. At the March 5, 2002 Primary Election persons registered in a political party will be given their party's ballot. Unaffiliated voters may request the ballot of the American Independent, Democratic, Republican or Natural Law party. If they do not request such a ballot, they will be given a nonpartisan ballot, containing only the names of all candidates for nonpartisan offices and measures to be voted upon at the primary election. Voters choose (register with) a political party at the time they register to vote. One of the choices is "decline to state" and that voter is "unaffiliated" with any political party. At a primary election the political parties choose the candidates they will run in the November general election. In the old "closed" primary system only voters registered in a political party could vote that party's primary ballot. Unaffiliated ("decline to state") voters voted only on whatever measures and non-partisan candidates were on the ballot. Then the law was changed and at the 2000 Primary election all the candidates from all parties were on one ballot and a voter could choose a candidate from any party. Since then, the court overturned that law. California now has a "Modified Closed Primary System". Unaffiliated ("decline to state") voters may, if they wish, choose to vote for one party's candidates. The American Independent Party, California Democratic Party, California Republican Party, and the Natural Law Party of California have agreed to let unaffiliated voters vote for their candidates. And, persons who are currently registered in a political party can vote for candidates of another political party if they reregister in the other party by the deadline - February 19 2002. |