Pride Source Votes

Cast of West Wing Promotes BTL's Progressive Voters' Guide

Video Aims To Reduce Voter Drop-Off In Judicial Elections

Originally printed 9/19/2012 (Issue 2038 - Between The Lines News)

Cast members of the award-winning television series, The West Wing, have come together to film a web video encouraging registered voters to cast votes in the non-partisan section of the General Election ballot Nov. 6.

The video's final panel directs viewers to Between The Lines' online Progressive Voters' Guide at MiVoterGuide.com, a comprehensive guide that includes the endorsements of up to 20 progressive political groups in Michigan, including LGBT groups, women's rights organizations, labor groups and environmental protection organizations. Voters can simply enter their zip code and then see endorsements in all the races that will appear on their ballots, including federal, state, local candidate races and ballot initiatives.

If voters vote "straight ticket" for one party, it will NOT include the non-partisan section of the ballot, which includes judicial candidates like Bridget Mary McCormack who is running for an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court. Bridget Mary McCormack is the older sister of West Wing cast member Mary McCormack, who played National Security Advisor Kate Harper on the popular television series and who is among those featured in the video entitled, "Walk-and-Talk the Vote."

Among the other cast members featured in the web video are Martin Sheen, Alison Janney, Lily Tomlin, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Janel Maloney, Joshua Malina and Melissa Fitzgerald.

While members of The West Wing have come together to promote other public service messages like the health benefits of walking, it marks the first time so many of the former cast members have come together on a project of this kind.

The web video storyline begins with National Security Advisory Kate Harper, played by Mary McCormack, announcing the nation is facing a crisis because too many people fail to vote the non-partisan section of their ballot. Using the 'walk and talk' trademark feature of the original show, the staff goes to the President, played by Martin Sheen, to argue something must be done because state supreme courts rule on issues that affect millions of Americans.

Michigan statistics confirm that voter drop-off regularly occurs in non-partisan Supreme Court voting. Between 2004 and 2010, the drop-off rate in Supreme Court voting ranged from 24.8 percent to 38.8 percent. In 2010, the drop-off rate was 27.1 percent.

Candidates for the State Supreme Court appear in the non-partisan section of the ballot in Michigan and the following states: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Visit the PrideSource Voter's Guide at MI Voter Guide.com !