Must be Present to Win

This morning Equal Rights Washington announced poll results that show a bare 51% approval for Referendum 71, well within the margin of error. Although a recent poll by the Western Washington University and the University of Washington shows increasing, majority support for domestic partnerships, it is not majorities that decide elections but voters. It is crucial that supporters of domestic partnerships not only volunteer, donate and educate their neighbors, but that ballots are completed and mailed.

The opponents of domestic partnership for seniors and same-sex couples understand quite well that they have a very small window in which to try and deny equality before the law. As detailed in an analysis at ReligiousTolerance.org, they must misrepresent the issue and turn out their "base" in opposition immediately, in the face of growing support. This referendum, in an off-year election, is their best hope.

Evangelical "social conservatives" are objectively better at turning out voters for off-year elections than mainstream voters. Mail-in elections tend to have higher turnouts than poll-only elections, however, and so supporters of domestic partnership rights for unmarried seniors and same-sex domestic partners relies upon mainstream voters simply sending in their ballots.

Ballots for Referendum 71 will be sent out mid-October and are due by November 3. Approve 71 Vancouver shall have stamps available at our Farmer's Market table during October, because it is vital that mainstream voters show their support for Referendum 71 and Washington domestic partners.

Those of us who purchase charity raffle tickets may have noticed that often the prizes are only available to those who show up. As expressed on the tickets for less important matters, we "must be present to win."

Referendum 71 is like that too, so please be sure that you and your neighbors get your ballots in immediately to protect domestic partners by approving Referendum 71.