2010 BTL Voter Guide is produced by the publishers and staff of Between The Lines every other year. It provides comprehensive research and endorsements so LGBT voters can make the best choices possible to move equality forward in Michigan. We sat down with Jan Stevenson and Susan Horowitz, co-publishers, to talk about this project.
1) Why do you publish the Voter Guide?
We have done readers' surveys and reviewed other studies of voter behavior, and the number one reason that people don't vote is that they feel uninformed. People don't like to feel like they don't know what they're doing, so they won't vote if they don't know who to vote for. Our first Voter Guide came out in 1996, and we've published one every two years since, with the primary goal to educate our readers on which candidates are pro-equality, and which are not.
2) How do you decide which candidates to endorse?
We sent out over 700 questionnaires to candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, U.S. Congress, Secretary of State, Attorney General, University Regents and Governors, Michigan State House and Senate, Michigan Supreme Court, and other select local races and closely evaluated, ranked and graded each response. We also studied the endorsements from pro-LGBT organizations including Equality Michigan, LAHR-PAC, The Kalamazoo Alliance PAC and the Michigan Democratic Party LGBT Caucus. We looked at whether labor groups endorsed the candidates, because unions have been strong supporters of LGBT rights for workers in contract negotiations and in political races, such as the anti-marriage amendment that passed in 2004. Unions were our strongest allies in that tough fight. We considered candidates on their stand on a woman's right to choose to continue a pregnancy or not, and did not endorse any candidates that we knew to be anti-choice.
We also looked closely at the endorsements from anti-LGBT groups, specifically the Citizens For Traditional Values and the Michigan Right to Life. Both have severe positions against LGBT equality, family rights and employment protections. In many of the races we were unable to endorse a candidate, but we were able to provide information about CTV or MRTL endorsements that we hope voters take into account when deciding whom not to vote for.
3) How is it distributed?
The Voter Guide is produced both digitally and in print. The digital version is available at http://www.PrideSource.com and all a voter needs is their zip code. We then provide an individualized ballot with all the endorsements and research information for the races that will appear on that person's ballot Nov. 2. We have tried to make it as simple and easy as possible. Since it went live online earlier this month, we've done email blasts, links and online ads to drive traffic to the online Voter Guide. By election day we expect that thousands of people will have downloaded their ballot off the website.
The printed version of the Voters Guide has been inserted into two issues of Between The Lines, on Oct. 21 and this issue, Oct. 28. We have also distributed thousands of printed Voter Guides to organizations and meeting places where large numbers of LGBT people will see it. It is organized so the only thing a voter needs to know is which of the 15 U.S. Congressional districts they are in. All the races for that district are listed on one page, so voters can tear out their district page, take it to the polls and vote for equality
4) What do you hope the impact of the Voter Guide will be this year?
The Voter Guide is intended to mobilize LGBT voters in Michigan. We know that thousands of people have used the Voters Guides in past elections and they have told us they voted because they felt empowered by the Voter Guide. We also know that candidates have increasingly responded to our questionnaires and to our endorsement lists. They know that the LGBT vote is important and they want our support. We need to elect LGBT leaders who will include us in the vision of tomorrow's Michigan, and the only way we can do that is if we all vote, and we all vote smart.
5) What are the next steps for the Voter Guide project?
We will continue to work collaboratively with the LGBT political groups in Michigan to educate and motivate LGBT voters. Most likely information dissemination will continue to move towards online, but we will not forget that the printed page is still a powerful means of communication. We're looking forward to working together with the new people at Equality Michigan and hope that together we can move our state to a place that values and welcomes its LGBT citizenry.
