Arizona
March 19, 2009
The Honorable Harry Mitchell
7201 E. Camelback Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Dear Congressman Mitchell,
Ever since I ran for 4th grade class President, I, along with most of my fellow citizens, have assumed that voting by secret ballot in America is a guaranteed constitutional right. It is such an enduring principle in our country, we find it hard to believe this right is under serious threat, but it is.
In the last Congress, you were a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, called “Card Check” a bill to erode the right of Americans to a secret ballot. Thankfully, that bill failed in the U.S. Senate. Now, our rights are under threat again. I am pleased that you are not a co-sponsor of EFCA in this Congress and urge you to vote against it. The bill would do away with secret ballot elections when employees choose who will represent them. If passed, workers would likely be subjected to intimidation tactics to force them to accept or reject union representation. Small businesses will suffer a dramatic increase in labor costs. This will cost jobs in an Arizona economy that has already lost over 150,000 jobs in this economic downturn.
I’m proud to be a leader in the national movement called S.O.S. Ballot – Save Our Secret Ballot. Here in Arizona, we will join with efforts in other states to guarantee every voter the right to vote by secret ballot. This will be done through the legislative referral or initiative process, whereby voters in Arizona are offered the opportunity to vote (by secret ballot, of course) to amend our state constitution to include this important guarantee. The 47-word amendment simply says:
"The right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is fundamental. Where state or federal law requires elections for public office or public votes on initiatives or referenda, or designations or authorizations of employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot shall be guaranteed."
Some of our members of Congress may need a little history lesson before they vote once again to erode such an important principle of freedom. Post-Civil War, the secret ballot was introduced to combat intimidation of black voters, when voting the “wrong way” could lead to dire repercussions. With this history, the secret ballot is a hallmark of civil rights in America, allowing all of us to vote our conscience freely without fear of reprisal. It’s fundamental.
Our nation wisely seeks to safeguard secret ballot elections in emerging democracies around the world. How ironic it would be for Congress to continue to stand for free and fair elections in other countries, while it votes to erode them here.
Our Congressional representatives have the privilege of electing their own leaders by secret ballot.
How can they in good conscience vote to deny that same privilege to workers back home?
That’s why we must reaffirm the secret ballot in our state constitution. We have begun to gather the hundreds of thousands of voter signatures necessary to place this issue before the voters, so that they can safeguard our right to a secret ballot in Arizona. In addition, we ask voters to sign cards addressed to you, asking that you “not vote in Washington, D.C. to try to take away our secret ballot rights in Arizona or throughout America.” We deliver thousands of those cards to your office today. We will gather many thousands more.
Some critics will say that we cannot protect our right to a secret ballot in our state constitution, that Congress and federal law won’t allow it. This is a fight worth having. Noted constitutional attorney Clint Bolick of the Goldwater Institute wrote the initiative language with this potential challenge in mind. He’s ready to defend the initiative in court and thousands of Arizonans are ready to give him that chance. This issue is that important.
I again want to thank you for not co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act in this Congress and urge you to vote against it.
Most Sincerely,
Sydney Hay
Chairman, SOS Ballot Arizona
Latest News
SOS Ballot Thanks Specter for Listening to Voters on EFCA
Washington, DC — Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) announced on the Senate floor this afternoon his intention to oppose the legislation known as card check. Senate Democrats and organized labor were hopeful that Sen. Specter would support the bill that would end the secret ballot and make it easier to organize workplaces.
“Of course we are pleased that Sen. Specter listened to his constituents and has decided to not support cloture or card check. Card check may be dead in this Congress, but we still must push ahead at the state level to effectively kill the idea permanently. Other Senators should take note that Sen. Specter specifically addressed the issue of the cloture vote. Senators who say they’re voting for cloture but not necessarily supporting the bill are playing a cynical game to fool voters,” said Tim Mooney, national coordinator, SOS Ballot.
Public opinion surveys taken in 10 states by Wilson Research Strategies shows 81% to 94% support for the actual constitutional amendment language, with union members support averaging 84%. Support among Republicans, Democrats & Independents is also nearly equal. Over 70% of voters say they are more likely to vote for a candidate supporting the SOS Ballot constitutional amendment.
SOS Ballot is a 501c4 organization dedicated to educating the American public on the continued need for a secret ballot wherever state or federal law requires elections. seeks to protect voters from intimidation and harassment by empowering them to vote whether they wish to have the right to a secret ballot guaranteed in their state constitution. SOS Ballot campaigns are underway in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, & South Dakota with additional state efforts pending. The Utah Legislature has already referred the measure to the 2010 general election ballot. The SOS Ballot effort has the strong support of Senators Kyl, Hatch, Coburn, Thune, Utah Governor Huntsman and many others.
To receive the poll analysis and data from Wilson Research Strategies, please reply to this email. To schedule an interview with pollster Chris Wilson or SOS Ballot National Chairman Rep. Ernest Istook, please call Dave Mohel or Audrey Mullen at 703-548-1160.
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHO: Sydney Hay, Chairman of SOS Ballot Arizona, and supporters of Save Our Secret Ballot of Arizona
WHAT: Delivery of thousands of constituent messages regarding the Employee Free Choice Act to Congressman Mitchell’s district office
WHEN: Thursday, March 19 at 1:00pm
WHERE: 7201 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
WHY: To show the support of thousands of AZ voters who have signed petitions and cards of support for Save Our Secret Ballot and wish to place a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote by secret ballot on the November, 2010 ballot in Arizona. These voters also wish to see the Employee Free Choice Act defeated in both houses of Congress.
SOS Ballot Arizona is a campaign committee dedicated to enacting a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to a secret ballot. In addition to the campaign in Arizona, SOS Ballot is also conducting initiative or legislative campaigns in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah to put constitutional amendment language on the ballot in 2010.
The 47-word amendment says: "The right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is fundamental. Where state or federal law requires elections for public office or public votes on initiatives or referenda, or designations or authorizations of employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot shall be guaranteed."
Note for TV producers: visuals will include signs, piles of colorful postcards