IN THIS ISSUE:

Early Voting Begins

Voter Suppression in Montana? Not this Time

Mark Your Calendar: Western Progressive Leadership Network

Voting has already begun in our region and across the country, so this month I'm leading off our newsletter with an update about early voting and some excellent voting resources. And while we're talking about voting, we have to talk about the failed attempt to suppress the vote in Montana.

Have a good fall,

Dan Petegorsky,
Executive Director, Western States Center

Early voting has begun across the country, and the West is no different. In states like Oregon and Washington, voting is now virtually entirely by mail-in ballot, while in other state like Nevada, eager first-time voters have been flocking to the early polling locations.Whatever the outcome on Election Day (or later, if controversies rage!), the 2008 campaigns have changed the landscape for organizing as well as elections themselves... Read more

The Montana Republican party's attempt at voter suppression earlier this month backfired spectacularly, causing a wave of people to protest and eventually causing them to pull back their efforts. For the first time ever in Montana, one of the two main parties filed a legal challenge to the registrations of 6,000 Montana voters. The state Republican Party's challenges were based on a scan of postal records that showed that people had a change of address since they had registered to vote. Read more...

Mark Your Calendar: Western Progressive Leadership Network

December 12-14, 2008
Downtown Hilton, Seattle, WA

This year's election has seen many firsts and an unprecedented set of activities and events that will affect our issues for years to come - the tumble of the world's stock markets, the ongoing exclusion of rights and political process based on race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, primary language and income, the rise in understanding global warming and climate change. We have a lot to process and understand. This conference is a place to build relationships, deepen strategies for achieveing policy success, and learn what's working in other states in the region. Learn more about WPLN.

Have You Seen Our New Video?

In case you didn't catch it as CSTI, our new short video is up on our home page. Watch it to see how we're Working for the Future, Today

Western States Center Needs You!

Building long-term strategies for progressive social change requires resources. Together, we know that we can make a difference. There are several ways you can help Western States Center. Find out today!