Green Party 1st to Endorse Election Integrity Pledge

[the Tarotlaydee )0(]

Oct 22, 2008 15:36 ET

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=3846680&access=EHget%20usr=anitastewart/res=3846680/sch=1120739
Green Party Becomes First Political Party to Endorse Election
Integrity Pledge

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Standing For
Voters, an internet-based campaign asking candidates to pledge their
commitment to fair elections, congratulates The Green Party for
becoming the first political party to call on its candidates to take
the Standing For Voters pledge.

Ten Green Party candidates have already pledged 'no early concessions'
and to 'challenge elections' if necessary: Presidential nominee
Cynthia McKinney; U.S. Congressional candidates Carol Brouillet
(CA-14), Rebecca Dewitt (AZ-4), Harold Burbank (CT-5), and Mike
Beilstein (OR-4); and five candidates for state and local offices: Dan
Kairis of Illinois, Richard Boyle of California, Rick Lass of New
Mexico, Allan Hancock of Minnesota, and Charles A. Pillsbury of
Connecticut.

"The Green Party led the efforts for recounts in Ohio and New Mexico
in 2004 after thousands of complaints of voting irregularities. We
consider the demand for fair and accurate elections a special goal of
the Green Party," says Scott McLarty, Green Party Media Coordinator.

The growing non-partisan effort also boasts pledges from twelve
Democrats, one Republican, and five independent/non-partisan
candidates in local, state, and federal races.

"We'd like to see all of the nation's political parties endorse
Standing For Voters, as the Green Party has done nationally," says
Emily Levy, Standing For Voters Project Coordinator. "As participants
in what's commonly known as 'our democratic process,' all parties
should commit to fair elections. We welcome endorsements from local,
state, and national party organizations, as well as other groups that
care about democracy."

Two of the six presidential candidates have taken the pledge: McKinney
and independent candidate Ralph Nader. Barack Obama, John McCain,
Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and Constitution Party candidate Chuck
Baldwin should also take the pledge.

Groups and individuals should ask candidates they support to sign the
pledge. "Telling candidates about StandingForVoters.org is an easy way
voters can make sure their candidates understand the challenges to
fair elections posed by massive targeted disenfranchisement, voter
suppression efforts, and electronic voting equipment that can easily
be rigged or hacked," says Levy. "Candidates ask us, the voters, to
stand for them. Now it's time that they also make a commitment to
'Standing For Voters.'"

See www.StandingForVoters.org for a list of candidates who have
pledged. Groups are invited to endorse at in...@StandingForVoters.org.
Additional endorsing groups include VotersUnite.Org and Democrats.Com.

Source: Standing For Voters

CONTACT: Emily Levy of Standing For Voters, +1-831-429-8946,
in...@StandingForVoters.org