We lost Michigan in 2016 by about 11,000 votes, or about 2.2 votes per precinct statewide. Distressingly, we could have picked up those votes in any number of ways and places, including in my own county of Washtenaw, where overall turnout in this crucial election was under 70% (and under 40% in core precincts in Ann Arbor).
But we also could have made up that difference in Detroit alone, which has approximately 500 precincts.
And now we have a plan to do exactly that: Elect a new Detroit City Clerk, Garlin Gilchrist, next Tuesday!
Think that the long lines, malfunctioning machines, and inaccurate records didn’t discourage an average of 20 people or so per precinct all day? Then consider this comment by my friend and associate, Eli Savit, from a recent Facebook post (reprinted with permission):
In my view, the City Clerk's race in Detroit may be the most important race for national politics in America this year (with the possible exception of the Virginia governor's race and the Alabama Senate race).
Here's a story: on Election Day in 2016, I was working in the statewide voter protection "boiler room" at the MGM Grand. I was charged with fielding calls from attorney volunteers across Detroit, who were on the ground looking out for irregularities in precincts across the City. Given Trump's calls for "voter fraud" vigilantism, we feared a bunch of calls about voter intimidation.
Well, the phone started ringing at 6:30 AM, and didn't slow down until the afternoon. Instead of voter-intimidation calls, we got call after call after call about long lines. About broken voting tabulators. About poll workers who didn't know the rules, and were turning registered and qualified voters away.
At around 3 PM, I finally got 20 seconds to look down at my cell phone. I saw a 9 AM text from my wife, who was working as a volunteer out in Ann Arbor.
"How's it going?" she asked. "Quiet here."
"I'll tell you what," I wrote, "If Hillary loses Michigan by a few thousand votes, it's because we left them on the table here in Detroit."
Hillary lost Michigan by 10,000 votes.
I don't ultimately know if the number of Detroit voters who showed up at the polls on Election Day--but were unable to cast their ballot--totaled 10,000. But I know it was close. I know thousands of Detroit people were disenfranchised last Election Day. They weren't disenfranchised by Trump or the Republicans, but because Detroit's current City Clerk wasn't prepared to run a proper election.
We need change. And Garlin Gilchrist II is the change we need. He's hard-working; smart; detail-oriented; tech-savvy. He's run an incredible campaign, surging from 2% in the first poll to force a run-off with the incumbent. And, on top of all that, he's a great guy.
The link above goes to Gilchrist’s own FB page, with all the details you’d ever want to know about his qualifications (prodigious), his plans for Detroit voter empowerment (sensible and achievable), and his GOTV strategy (well-organized).
A short digression to cover a few of Gilchrist’s plans for post-election to make voting easy and open the doorway to democracy:
- More polling places/absentee ballot drop-off locations
- Send absentee voters confirmation receipts
- Year-round poll-worker training and recruitment; practice before Election Day
- Open full-service City Clerk centers in every City Council district
- Publish all records of City Council meeting business promptly
(Plus, he and I discussed last Friday the desirability of creating some instructional videos to explain and demystify the process of voting. That would be a great YouTube resource, wouldn’t it? Civics education in a very practical and useful form.)
TODAY’S Facebook Countdown!
But I’ll make it easier for you and include some key links here from today’s post by the volunteer coordinator, Jeffrey Nolish:
Click here to sign up to volunteer: https://calendly.com/gilchrist Click here to sign up to assist on Election Day: http://bit.ly/2zMpvfe Help us help Garlin achieve his dream. Let’s go. #StandTALLforDetroit
Nolish points out that even an hour this week can make a positive difference. He’s right, and there are any number of ways for you to contribute that hour. You can canvass, make phone calls, send texts; you can donate. Here’s the link to our own ActBlue page for Daily Kos donations to his campaign!
In addition, Detroit and Metro Detroit residents, I have a special invitation to extend to you. Come join me next Saturday, Nov. 4, at the east side Gilchrist Campaign office, 8325 E. Jefferson (at Iroquois) for a day of GOTV canvassing.
The east side campaign office is housed in one of Indian Village’s architectural gems, near Belle Isle.
I’ll be there by 10:00 AM, prepared to walk, call, or do whatever else they’d like me to do. At the end of the day, around 7:00 PM, I’ll head to the Bucharest Grill a few blocks further west on Jefferson, for a Motor City Kossacks’ meetup where we can debrief and catch up. I’ll pick up any Motor City Kossack who needs a ride on my way into the campaign office. And I’ll buy your dinner.
Yes, it’s that crucial to me to encourage more last-minute volunteering. In fact, I plan to volunteer all day on Election Day to do poll greeting at key polling places. This election MATTERS.
This is a good moment to thank and link to the work of some of the most tireless advocates of Gilchrist’s candidacy, on and off the site. A Detroiter himself, 2thanks has committed many, many hours of effort on behalf of promoting democracy in his beloved city. Check out his most recent post: 28 Groups endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for City Clerk — Plus One? #StDD #BLM. You’re doing great work, 2thanks! And JoanMar, one of the administrators of Support the Dream Defenders, has also extended herself regularly on Gilchrist’s campaign. Her recent post, Vote for Garlin Gilchrist II for Detroit City Clerk #StDD #BLM, is a treasure trove of information about his record, his impressive list of endorsees, and the paths through which YOU can participate. Thank you, JoanMar, and all the Support the Dream Defenders, for speaking out so strongly on this vitally important campaign.
Whether you live in Detroit, Metro Detroit, Michigan, or elsewhere in the US (or abroad, if you’re an ex-pat): Please take a moment TODAY, 8 days before Election Day, to consider how you, too, can be part of bringing this campaign across the line to victory. It will be a win for us all.
Motor City Kossacks Meetup!
Saturday, November 4, 2017
7:00 PM, after volunteering for Garlin Gilchrist II for Detroit City Clerk
Bucharest Grill, 2684 E. Jefferson, Detroit MI 48207 (in Rivertown)
Let me know here or via Kosmail whether you can attend or need a ride!