The Michigan Election Process: How it works and how it can work for us.

Presenter: Matt Gillard, an advocacy specialist with the Michigan Association of United Ways.

Afternoon session, Thursday, 1:18 p.m.

Speaker begins: "Remember the election is an opportunity. We know public often doesn't pay attention to issues like this, except during elections."

What's at stake?

Governor - Whoever that is will do a great deal to shape early childhood.

Senate - 38 senate seats up for election.29 are termed out. So we'll have massive turnover.

House - 110 seats up for election, 46 members termed out. Many of those running for Senate.

Re-districting - This is a once every 10 years event. Between this election and 2012, boundaries will be redrawn. If any one political party controls three legs of the stool (governor, Senate, House), they will draw those lines to benefit them. This adds even more importance to this election.

The goals

• Making early childhood a Top Five priority. "In many senses, we're on our way to doing this. We need to continue that effort."
• Establish relationships with candidates. "This is the most critical thing we can do."
• Convince candidates that voters care about early childhood issues. Biggest ways to do this is register voters, getting people out to vote.

Audience member: Stay at home moms, difficult for them to go to polls. How can we get rid of those barriers? Answer: Absentee ballots?

Matt (answering): Yes, absentee vote. We should have no-reason absentee voting in this statement. Have PC set up an area to watch kids.

Timeline: Gubernatorial

It has already started. It's unprecedented that so little settled as far as candidates, especially Democrats. On Republican it's more set - Rick Snyder (Ann Arbor businessman), Mike Bouchard (former legislator, sheriff), Pete Hoekstra, Mike Cox (current attorney general), Tom George.

On Democratic side - Alma Wheeler Smith, Denise Ilitch, Bob Bowman, Andy Dillon (current speaker), Virg Bernero (Lansing mayor).

These next few months are critical for face to face opportunities with these people. Those opps fade as campaign goes on.

Audience member: We emailed our work plan to candidates. (Strategy)

Audience: Will new campaign finance ruling affect race?

Matt: Probably not.  Corporations have always taken out ads, but now they'll do so more directly.

Coming soon to GSCs/PCs: Sample questions to ask candidates.

Field will narrow quickly, so next three months are critical.

August primary, November general election.

Timeline Legislature

Filing deadline is May 11.

August, primary. Voter turnout key for early childhood.

November, general election.

Candidate interviews

Our goal, once again, is to establish relationships by interviewing candidates. White paper will contain issues. You'll be asked to do local white paper and present to candidates.

Tone should be: presenting info to candidates, not necessarily like a job interview

Candidates won't know much about EC, which is an opportunity.

Give them info to use in their stump speeches. Give them good news to share. Effective campaigns talk positively. They want to talk positively about early childhood.

5 keys to success

• Inform candidates about early childhood issues.
• Register voters
• Inform voters about early childhood issues.
• Inform voters about candidates.
• Get out the vote.

"What I'm sensing is people are angry. People want to participate in this election. Angry is fine, but let's inform them about EC issues so we can harness that energy."

Audience: I've heard you can't vote absentee first time you vote.

Answer: That's not true. Nothing in law.

If you have events, we can work with local county clerk to get voters registered at events.

Note: October 2 is last date to register for general election.

Audience: Is it wise to donate to candidates.

Answer: Yes. These campaigns are incredibly expensive.

Audience: Find out who major contributors are and talk to them about early childhood.

Answer: Good idea.

Audience: Have house parties for candidates you support.

Answer: Good idea. Candidates want ways to get message out.

Sample letters to the editor about State of State will be sent to GSCs/PCs shortly.

Audience: Are thank you notes a good thing?

Answer: Yes, we have to thank yous for support.

Audience: Will budget be settled July 1

Answer: 50/50 chance. Nobody in legislature wants to be dealing with this near election. But reforms will be difficult. We'll know in a month how likely it is.