An independent voice for Wyoming people
ProjectsVOTE
The VOTE Project
The ESPC is a partner in the VOTE Project, a regional effort under the auspices of Western States Center with support from the Social Justice Fund Northwest, to educate and mobilize voters and potential voters. VOTE stands for Voter Organizing, Training and Empowerment Project.
Cristina Colling, who worked part-time for the ESPC on both the ESPC’s 2006 voter mobilization effort and its 2008 program, now serves as the ESPC’s full-time field organizer. She is working to organize and reach voters in targeted precincts in north Casper, south Cheyenne, Jackson, southside Rawlins, Rock Springs, south Torrington, and the Wind River Reservation (all places where the ESPC has conducted voter engagement work in the past). The project includes issue identification in these communities.
Voter education efforts in Fremont County are particularly important this year in light of a federal court victory registered by five reservation residents. The court declared that the county’s historic system of electing county commissioners “at-large” discriminates against Indians by diluting their votes. The court ruled the county system violates the federal Voting Rights Act. The judge has ordered creation of commissioner districts in Fremont County with one district that has a majority of Indian voters. The county is struggling to devise a system that will meet court approval in time for the 2010 elections.
Voter education and mobilization is part of the ESPC’s commitment to diversify Wyoming politics by bringing in new voices. In addition to minority communities, we also will work with advocates for children, especially those groups supporting children in low-income families.
Above left: Fred Antelope, Flora Crazy Thunder, Anthony Oldman, Cristina Colling, Jolene Catron, and Layha Spoonhunter are among the reservation residents who will work to educate voters there and get them to the polls.
Above right: In 2008, Cristina Colling, left, joined Jacqueline Bowlus and Richard Sanchez in Rawlins to plan canvassing efforts in Rawlins precinct 1-1. They’re involved again in 2010.
[ Back to top ]