From Country First Team <[email protected]>
Subject standing guard
Date June 26, 2023 11:04 AM
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John --



We've got a treat for you!  This coming Thursday, June 29th we'll host a virtual campfire rally we're calling Guardians of Democracy, which features two people who live up to the title: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who famously refused Trump's demand that he be declared winner of the 2020 election; and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who has implemented many exciting election innovations. These two leaders prove that protecting democracy isn't partisan -- it's American.



We'll be talking to them about the need for Chief Election Administrators to put Country over Party, the importance of local election clerks, election innovations (like Ranked Choice/Instant Runoff), and the threats and hope they see on the horizon. It's going to be a fantastic event -- make sure you RSVP and add it to your calendar today!



>> RSVP for Guardians of Democracy: A Country First Campfire <[link removed]>







<[link removed]>



<[link removed]>RSVP Today <[link removed]>



Forget about Guardians of the Galaxy, what we really need are a lot more Guardians of Democracy right here in America. Country First is out to identify, recruit, and train more of them to run for office, while working overtime to implement the electoral reforms that will allow them to survive and thrive in our politics.



We hope you can make it on Thursday, June 29th at:



- 8:00 pm Eastern

- 7:00 pm Central

- 6:00 pm Mountain

- 5:00 pm Pacific

- 4:00 pm Alaska

- 2:00 pm Hawaii



Gatherings like this don't just educate, they inspire, and give us the opportunity to grow



Together,





Country First Team









<[link removed]>







See something of interest? All are welcome! Click on the event to register.



Upcoming Events



June 27 at 8pm ET 



- National Political Research Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>



June 29 at 7pm ET 



- Country First Book Club <[link removed]>



June 29 at 8pm ET 



- Guardians of Democracy: A Country First Campfire <[link removed]>







MEET RYAN WIENER



Ryan Wiener, hailing from the great state of Illinois, has been a volunteer with Country First since 2021. Since joining, Ryan has served as the Chair of State Chapters, served on the copywriting committee, and continues to be an integral part of our volunteer team. Ryan is dedicated to furthering Country First’s mission and promoting democracy across the country. 



"I've always been active in staying informed on political and social issues. After seeing what I considered to be an outright attack on my country by its own in our highest offices I decided I needed to put my effort into combating it hands on. From first joining nearly 3 years ago to the present, Ive been able to see us go from a small group to hundreds of thousands of members along with all the growth and changes throughout to constantly better the organization and our ability to affect change. Knowing that we have contributed to getting the right people elected in multiple elections says it all. I draw inspiration from a lot of places and the efforts of people like our founders all the way to modern freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela. People who have put their lives on the line for the dream of a democratic republic here and elsewhere. I try to be as involved with each of our working groups as possible and help lead the Speakers and the Electoral reform group. I highly encourage anyone who really wants to get hands-on to check them out."



Thank you, Ryan, for all of your hard work and dedication to promoting and preserving democracy!If you have an idea for someone who should be featured in a future Memo, reach out to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.







ELECTION REFORM <[link removed]>



Daily Herald <[link removed]>: Ranked-choice filing deadlines stay same as Utah moves forward with delayed election



The decision to delay elections in Utah was not an easy one, according to Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, who told the Daily Herald that her office evaluated every possible option for holding this year’s municipal elections and the special election for U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, of Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, in an efficient and cost-effective manner. On the last day of the 2023 election filing deadline, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued a proclamation moving the primary and general elections back two-to-three weeks.



KLCC <[link removed]>: New initiative would bring 'STAR Voting' to Eugene elections



This month, petitioners will begin collecting signatures to overhaul election rules in the city of Eugene. The initiative would allow voters to rate multiple candidates instead of choosing just one. Under a STAR Voting system, the public would score candidates on a scale of zero to five. The two highest scorers would then enter into an automatic run-off, with the finalist that more voters preferred becoming the winner.



Hastings Tribune <[link removed]>: My center-right principles led me to embrace Ranked Choice Voting



I have an embarrassing confession to make: I’m a political junkie, but I didn’t vote in the last two federal elections. As a center-right voter, wholly disillusioned with the direction of my former party, I refuse to “hold my nose” and vote for candidates who don’t reflect my values. Friends, family, and the internet try to browbeat me into voting for one of the major party’s candidates by telling me that not doing so is the equivalent of voting for “the other side.”



ELECTION DISINFORMATION



The Hill <[link removed]>: Georgia election board dismisses ‘unsubstantiated’ 2020 fraud claim



The State Election Board in Georgia on Tuesday dismissed a long-running case into alleged election malfeasance in 2020 after an investigation found that allegations against two Fulton County poll workers “were false and unsubstantiated.” “We remain diligent and dedicated to looking into real claims of voter fraud,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a press release. “We are glad the state election board finally put this issue to rest. False claims and knowingly false allegations made against these election workers have done tremendous harm. Election workers deserve our praise for being on the front lines.”



The Cap Times <[link removed]>: Wisconsin elections chief says ‘false claims’ put her job at risk



With the July 1 expiration of her term looming, Wisconsin’s top, nonpartisan election official sent a letter to the state’s municipal and county clerks Wednesday indicating that her future as administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission is uncertain. Meagan Wolfe also hinted in the note that she would like to remain in the role she’s held since 2018. Wolfe drew the ire of some Republican lawmakers and scores of election conspiracy theorists in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. She combatted former President Donald Trump’s falsehoods about how the election was administered in Wisconsin.



BIPARTISANSHIP



KRCC <[link removed]>: Colorado Springs’ new mayor appears in unity ad with candidate he beat



The newly sworn in mayor of Colorado Springs, Yemi Mobolade, has spent some of his remaining campaign funds on an advertisement that features his former runoff rival Wayne Williams. The ad encourages unity and civic participation. Both men are seen wearing t-shirts emblazoned with “LOVE THIS CITY.” “You know that elections can be hard on a city – win or lose. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work together for our community,” Williams, a former Colorado Secretary of State, says in the roughly minute-long video. “We are united in our love for Colorado Springs,” Mobolade adds. 



Urban Milwaukee <[link removed]>: Bipartisan Bill Makes Attacks on Election Workers a Felony



Election workers’ identifying information would be less available to the public and attacks on those workers would be punished more severely under a proposal circulating through the state Capitol. The bill’s authors describe it as an attempt to protect civil servants from harassment, doxxing and attacks. The bipartisan bill would exempt many records with identifying information about poll workers from being accessed publicly, and also make it a felony to physically harm an election official or worker.



GERRYMANDERING



The Intelligencer <[link removed]>: EXPLAINER: Trial begins in tribes' lawsuit over North Dakota redistricting map



Two tribes are in federal court this week, trying to prove to a judge that North Dakota's legislative district map dilutes Native American voters' strength on their reservations. A trial began Monday in Fargo in the federal lawsuit brought last year by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe, who allege the redistricting done in 2021 by the Republican-led Legislature violates the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 civil rights law.



Arkansas Times <[link removed]>: A voting rights win in Alabama launches Arkansas gerrymander lawsuit back into action



The crafty slice-and-dice of Arkansas’s congressional map that splinters Pulaski County’s bloc of Democratic-leaning Black voters into three pieces and loops more white, conservative voters into Republican Rep. French Hill‘s 2nd District is facing renewed resistance. A surprise decision by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month that’s forcing Alabama to throw out a similarly discriminatory map has injected new energy into legal efforts in Arkansas, where multiple lawsuits have been filed over the map the Arkansas legislature’s Republican supermajority adopted in 2021.







Actions you can take right now to help make a difference!



WATCH <[link removed]>our latest advertisement, highlighting all the ways #DefaultDon has defaulted! Share it with your friends!



SIGN <[link removed]>tthe petition pledging your support of the recent removal of Tucker Carlson and reaffirm your commitment to the truth!



SHOP <[link removed]> our Limited Edition Stand for Truth cap, signed by Adam Kinzinger!



BRING a friend to one of our events! Your unique recruiter link: [link removed]



Check out our Volunteer Working Groups!



As a grassroots coalition, Country First is dedicated to providing each member with the opportunity to contribute to the success of the movement. National Volunteer Working Groups are separated by interest and are aligned with one of Country First’s key pillars.



- Election Reform <[link removed]>

- Political Research <[link removed]>

- Finding Solutions <[link removed]>

- Communications <[link removed]>

- Mending Divisions <[link removed]>

- Inspiring Speakers Series <[link removed]>



<[link removed]>Get Involved <[link removed]>



<[link removed]>Support the Mission <[link removed]>



<[link removed]>Wear the Cause <[link removed]>







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