Tuesday, October 5, 2010

21st Century Democrats Endorse Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State (MI)


For Immediate Release
October 5, 2010


21st Century Democrats Endorses Jocelyn Benson
for Secretary of State (MI)


Washington, D.C. - 21st Century Democrats has endorsed Jocelyn Benson for Michigan's Secretary of State. A civil leader dedicated to equal representation for all of Michigan's citizens, Jocelyn Benson will work to restore fairness to the election process when elected.

"We're excited to endorse Jocelyn Benson, a champion of voters' rights," said Jim Scheibel, Chairman of 21st Century Democrats. "She has literally written the book on how to be a fair and effective Secretary of State. In the post Citizens United world, it is vital that voters have an advocate that will put voter rights before corporate interests and we know Jocelyn will be that advocate."

As Secretary of State, Benson will work to maintain impartiality in monitoring elections, pledging to take the Oath of Nonpartisanship upon taking office. Benson will fight election fraud by investigating how ballot initiatives are collected, and protecting voters from intimidation and deception at all levels of the voting process. Furthermore, Benson will strive to limit corporate influence in elections, restoring control of elections back to the hands of Michigan's citizens.

Benson earned a B.A. at Wellesley College; immediately afterward starting a successful career at the Southern Poverty Law Center, investigating hate groups and hate crimes throughout the United States. she earned a Master of Philosophy as a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University, later receiving a law degree from Harvard University.

Throughout her career, she has fought to protect voter's rights, from preventing the use of foreclosure lists to deny voter access on Election Day, to blocking the closure of a Secretary of State branch office, citing a violation of the Voting Rights Act. In addition, Benson has aided in the passage of the Help America Vote Act, a federal mandate which improved election law in light of the controversy surrounding the 2000 Presidential recount. In 2004, she coordinated efforts on the national level to establish Voter Protection officials, who worked to restore integrity in the voting procedure established by federal law.

For more information about 21st Century Democrats or to learn more about our endorsed candidates, please visit our website: www.21stcenturydems.org.

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