Jewish groups: Iowa caucus date disenfranchises Jews

The Iowa Democratic and Republican parties scheduled their party caucuses for a Saturday afternoon next year because they wanted to encourage more participation. But they didn’t seem to realize that by scheduling them on Shabbat, they could be losing the participation of some Jews.

Now 18 Jewish organizations — including representatives of all four religious streams and both the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Republican Jewish Coalition — are formally asking the parties to change the date of the caucuses in a lettter to the party chairmen.

"The decision to move the Iowa political party caucuses to a Saturday effectively disenfranchises members of the Jewish community," says the letter, coordinated by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. "Jews who observe the Sabbath could not work on caucus day to support their candidates of choice. Worse, since caucuses do not allow for absentee voting, there would be essentially no opportunity to participate in this important process. This is utterly inconsistent with the values of our pluralistic democracy."

The full letter is after the jump:[[READMORE]]

Michael Kiernan
Chair, Iowa Democratic Party
5661 Fleur DriveDes Moines, IA 50321

Matt Strawn
Chair, Iowa Republican Party
621 E 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Dear Mr. Kiernan and Mr. Strawn:

A central premise of American politics is the enfranchisement of every citizen. The Jewish community has actively campaigned for fair and equal representation for the voices of majority and minorities alike, the protection of civil rights of all people and unencumbered access for all to the processes that choose our elected leaders. Our nation has thrived because of the tremendous opportunities afforded to people from diverse racial, ethnic, religious and other backgrounds. For this reason, we are distressed to learn that the Democratic and Republican parties of Iowa have decided to hold their 2010 caucuses on a Saturday.

The decision to move the Iowa political party caucuses to a Saturday effectively disenfranchises members of the Jewish community. Jews who observe the Sabbath could not work on caucus day to support their candidates of choice. Worse, since caucuses do not allow for absentee voting, there would be essentially no opportunity to participate in this important process. This is utterly inconsistent with the values of our pluralistic democracy.

Voting and participation in the electoral process is a cornerstone of any democracy. It is the highest civic duty most people ever undertake. Saturday caucuses will force members of the Iowa Jewish community to choose between their faith and their civic duties.

Given the important role Iowa has in our nation’s electoral contests and their leadership position in serving as a role model to other states, we respectfully ask and hope the Democratic and Republican parties to reverse this ill‐considered this move.

Sincerely,
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
Anti‐Defamation League
B’nai B’rith International
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Hadassah: The Women’s Zionist Organization of America
ORT America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jewish War Veterans
National Council of Jewish Women
National Jewish Democratic Council
Rabbinical Assembly
Republican Jewish Coalition
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Union of Reform Judaism

cc: Democratic National Committee
Republican National Committee