November 2008 Voter Guide
More than any other time in the history of U.S. elections, Americans see 2008 as the year of the Power Vote because of all that is stake, from the economy and the war in Iraq to universal health care and immigration reform.
A major issue for low-income, immigrant and people of color communities is accessibility to affordable health care regardless of immigration status. This need is particularly pressing for children who represent America's future. Equally important is giving all immigrant youth a fair opportunity to attend college and give back to society through their education and talent.
We look forward to public debate on these issues to gain momentum after the elections. 2008 will always be remembered as the year when Americans from all walks of life turned out in record numbers. No doubt, this election will shape the nation’s future for decades to come and as Korean Americans, we cannot be left out. Let's voice our vote!
Contents |
Recommendation on Propositions
- NO on 4
- Parental Notification on a Minor’s Abortion
- YES on 5
- Rehabilitation, Not Prisons
- NO on 6
- Criminalizing Youth and Immigrants
- NO on 8
- Denial of Rights to Same -Sex Couples
- Everyone has the right to live free of discrimination.
- NO on 9
- Limiting Constitutional Due Process Rights
- NO on 11
- Redistricting
- protect minority voting blocks!
Information on Elections
- Korean Resource Center
- (323) 937-3718
- www.krcla.org
- County Registrar
- Los Angeles County
- (800) 481-8683
- Los Angeles County
- http://www.lavote.net
- (714) 567-7600
- http://www.ocvote.com
Important Dates
- Voter Registration Deadline
- Monday, October 20th
- *Registration Forms must be postmarked by this date.
- * You must re-register if you have changed your address or name.
- Vote-By-Mail Application Deadline
- Tuesday, October 28th
- Your application must be postmarked by this date.
ㅣ* You can also fil�le the enclosed “Application for Permanent Vote by Mail Status” and never have to �le the application again.
- Election Date
- Tuesday, November 4th, 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Your polling place location will be printed on the back of your sample ballot.
- First time voters must show a photo ID or a document that states their name and residence address at the poll site.
- VBM ballots must be received by the local county clerk’s o�ce by Election Day. On Election Day, you can drop o� VBM ballots at any polling place within
your county.
Prop. 4: Access to Safe Health Care
Right now, every young woman has the right to go to a health care provider to terminate a pregnancy if she chooses to do so. Prop 4 would change the law and require health care providers to notify the parents or guardians of a young woman at least 48 hours prior to performing an abortion. While we must encourage better communication within a family, we do not believe this initiative has the best interest of young women or their families in mind. Rather, if this initiative were to pass, many young women would encounter more obstacles in accessing reproductive health services and/or be forced to seek dangerous alternative abortions. We believe that women should have the right to make their own choices regarding their reproductive health.
We recommend: No on 4
Prop. 6: Criminalization of Youth
(also known as the Runner Initiative)
Proposition 6 focuses on prisons and harsher penalties as the solution to crime, instead of prevention and rehabilitation. It would increase funding for prisons, increase criminal penalties for some crimes, and establish a statewide gang registry. Youth fourteen or older charged with a “gang-related” felony would be automatically tried as adults, even for nonviolent crimes. Community groups would be prevented from giving input on youth rehabilitation. Prop. 6 would limit constitutional rights by denying bail to all immigrants thought to be undocumented, even if they are never charged or convicted of a crime. It would also require local law enforcement officials to record the immigration status of anyone booked, charged, or convicted of a felony. Prop. 6 will hurt our communities because it unjustly targets immigrants, youth, low-income people of color, and it takes money away from the state budget that could otherwise support education and health programs.
We recommend: No on 6
Prop. 9: Limiting Constitutional Due Process Rights
California has very strong laws that protect the rights of crime victims. Proposition 9 includes some provisions to expand the rights of victims, but would significantly limit the constitutional rights of people convicted of crimes. For people eligible for parole, it would reduce the number of parole hearings from once per year to once every 3-15 years. It would make it more difficult to be released on bail or granted parole by expanding the standards that must be met. It would also remove the right to free legal assistance for low-income people in parole revocation hearings. This proposition would disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. Although the rights of crime victims are important, it is also important that everyone have a fair chance in the judicial process. Rather than more jail time, our state should focus on rehabilitation so that people convicted of a crime are able to positively integrate back into society.
We recommend: No on 9
Copyright
- Information about the propositions has been replicated and adapted with permission from Mobilize the Immigrant Vote’s Voter Guide, which is available online at www.mivcalifornia.org
- (This material is licensed with Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives. For a full legal code, visit krcla.org/en/License.
