The Firefly: Connecting Indiana Greens
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April 2024 issue
The past weekend was an exciting and busy time for Greens across the Hoosier state as we were out at many Earth Day events. This marks the start of outreach season as we promote our eco-justice and environmental values. This is going to be a great year for Greens in Indiana as we organize for our people and our planet. Our Green Party Primary election is also fast approaching and the Indiana Green Party wants your voice to be heard. Add your vote by becoming a member of the Green Party of Indiana today so that you will receive a ballot on May 24th.
Indiana Green Party Primary – Register by May 10th to Vote!
As a minor political party in Indiana, the Indiana Green Party does not participate in the primary elections that the two major parties hold. Instead, we will be holding our own internal presidential primary that is completely independent. The Indiana Green Party has four (4) voting delegates to the Green Party US 2024 Presidential Nominating Convention. The allocation of those delegates for our state will be determined by an online ranked choice vote that will take place from Friday, May 24, 2024 at Noon Eastern / 11am Central to Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 8:30pm Eastern / 7:30pm Central. All Indiana residents who are registered with the Indiana Green Party by Friday, May 10, 2024 are eligible to receive a voting link via email. The election results will be revealed at the Indiana Green Party monthly ZOOM on Thursday, May 30th 8:30pm Eastern / 7:30pm Central.
Voting in the Indiana Green Party primary will be for members of the Indiana Green Party. Information on joining the Indiana Green Party can be found on our Membership Page. You do not have to be a registered voter in order to receive a ballot in the Indiana Green Party Primary, however you will need to be a resident of Indiana. Deadline for joining the party or renewing your yearly membership is Friday, May 10, 2024 11pm Eastern / 10pm Central.
Candidates Appearing on the Ballot
The following candidates will be appearing on your 2024 Indiana Presidential Primary ballot. These candidates have met or are working towards the Green Party US recognition status. Full details of our national party's process and links to candidate questionnaires can be found at GP.org 2024 Nomination Process.
- Davi - www.bydavi.com
- Jamine Sherman - www.jasminesherman2024.com
- Jill Stein - www.jillstein2024.com
- Jorge Zavala - votejz.org
- Randy Toler - www.tolerforpresident.com
- Robert Cooke - www.robertcooke47.com
Full detail of our 2024 Indiana Green Party Presidential Primary can be found on the 2024 Primary page.
April Statewide Green Party ZOOM
Are you passionate about the environment and social justice? Then you don't want to miss the Indiana Green Party Monthly Statewide Meeting! Join us on Zoom on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, at 8:30 PM Eastern / 7:30 PM Central time.
Creating a community is crucial for the growth of the party, so we encourage you to get involved and make a difference. We can't wait to see you there!
Indiana Green Party Statewide Zoom Meeting
Scheduled for Thursday, April 25th at 8:30pm Eastern / 7:30pm Central. For Phone/Voice only: 312 626 6799. Meeting ID: 547 105 0834
Indiana Greens Wait for Appellate Ruling
The Indiana Green Party presented its case to the US 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Oliver Hall, our attorney, appeared before the three judge panel on April 10th in our lawsuit against the State of Indiana. At the center of the suit is a challenge to the very difficult requirements for third party candidates to get on the ballot in Indiana. If you would like to hear our case you can listen to audio from the oral arguments (we are the first case but you have to fast-foward quite a bit until you start to hear speaking) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8tNhL-gE-k
For those who want to run for state-wide office they have to submit almost 37,000 valid signatures (on paper forms by county, submitted to respective counties for validation, then collected all up from across the state and finally delivered to Indianapolis by early July). While the federal district court ruled in favor of the State - that none of the individual requirements in themselves created a burden, our argument was that the district court failed to weigh the collective burden placed by the government on those seeking to be on the ballot, as required in Supreme Court precedent. Our appeal asks the US 7th Circuit to send the case back to the US District court with the requirement that such an analysis be considered.
Of note in the oral questioning by the justices were those by Justice Kenneth Ripple, a Reagan appointee and former Professor of Law at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Justice Ripple was the most concerned about the state's argument that the requirements imposed in Indiana were necessary so that voters are not confused by too many choices. Justice Ripple responded "What you are basically saying here is, no let it rest, that's a legitimate government interest to keep the in's in." At the center of his line of questioning is this issue if it is a legitimate government interest to impose so many rules and hurdles in the process, which the Indiana Green Party's suit is making the noise by saying no it is not.
On a lighten note Justice Ripple made a statement that we are going to just embrace (namely take out of context) with full Green Party fun. As Greens we hear from people all across the Hoosier state who are just tired of the candidates that the same, old two parties are putting our ballots. Like Justice Ripple we understand how desperate many in Indiana are to have Green and other third-party candidates as choices on their ballots. We say to those roaming the streets of South Bend, we are with you completely.
If you would like to read a good article on the appeal, check our the Courthouse News story. The Indiana Green Party is represented by Oliver Hall, Executive Director and General Counsel for the Center for Competitive Democracy. He is also the author of Death by a Thousand Signatures: The Rise of Restrictive Ballot Access Laws and the Decline of Electoral Competition in the United States.
Join the Party!
Now is the time to join the party that is focused on our Green movement of environmental justice, human rights and democracy. Your annual membership connects you to our grassroots movement. Help us to push Indiana into the Green Revolution.
We need your voice in how to move us forward in every community in Indiana. Membership in the Green Party connects you to Greens throughout the state and includes you in our Annual Congress business meeting. Click on your membership level to make send in your secure, online membership.
For those who have a financial hardship and would like to request free or reduced membership, please complete our free membership form.
Support Green Candidates
The Indiana Green Party supports Green Candidates throughout Indiana. Running for office takes a lot of time, effort, and emotional support. These tireless efforts on the local level also need your financial support. Make a contribution today to help us to paint every ballot across Indiana Green! Click on the button below to make a contribution today. If you would like more information about running for your local office contact us, message us on facebook, or reply to this email. If you are considering running in 2025 or 2026 now is the time to start getting organized!
Support Green Candidates with a Contribution Today
Contribute
Your contributions to our Indiana focused Green Movement helps to spread the message and develop our next generation of environmental and justice focused candidates. Support your Indiana Greens with you contribution today.
The Indiana Green Party is a registered political party with the state of Indiana. Contributions are subject to Indiana's campaign finance regulations and reporting requirements.
Volunteer!
Interested in joining our work for a Green Indiana?
We are always looking for volunteers to help our grassroots movement. From advocacy to political action we have needs across the state and in your local area. We also are looking for Greens to run in local offices as we show Hoosiers the power of the people. To find out more how you can become more involved with your Green Party, click here to contact us!
Tell your friends about our work for Hoosier democracy, environment and human rights. We are looking to form new groups across the state. If you are interested in learning about how you can organize with us in your local community, reach out to us!
Updates from Your Local Greens
Green Party of Northeast Indiana Reconvenes In-Person Meetings
The Green Party of Northeast Indiana (GPNEIN) met in-person on April 21st, 2024 in Fort Wayne, for the first time since the era of COVID and lockdowns. The gathering lasted for two hours at Electric Works Union Street Market and was a time for old friends and new eco-adovcates to connect. There was much excitement about networking and what can be accomplished in environmental justice in the greater Fort Wayne area.
We are looking forward to gaining exposure in the Northeast Indiana area and to meet that goal a new schedule of alternating Zoom and in-person meet-ups was planned. Topics discussed amoung our local Greens were the upcoming Indiana Green Party primary, the current lawsuit against the Indiana Secretary of State over ballot access, and how to battle the apathy that prevails in our present society regarding the Palestinian genocide by Israel.
The next GPNEIN Zoom meeting will be on April 28th at 3 p.m. EST, and all Greens and interested Greens in Northeast Indiana are invited to attend.
Green Party of Northeast Indiana Local Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5471050834?omn=82281618428
Sunday, April 28th at 3pm Eastern. Meeting ID: 547 105 0834
Vigo County Green Party
In the month of April, the Vigo County Green Party has participated in 3 tabling events: vendor fair at ISU Drop of Lavender Summit on the 12th, ISU Earth Day on the 17th [LINK], then the White Violet Center Earth Day on the 20th [LINK].
Plans still in the future are running local candidates in 2024 [LINK] and several other tabling and/or canvassing events [LINK], to help grow the Green Party in 2024 and in the future.
Northwest Indiana Green Party
The Northwest Indiana Green Party was out in full force at the Porter County Recycling Expo on Earth Day. Along with sharing information about our local advocacy and political work we continued our efforts to promote native milkweed. Lots of free seeds were handed out as we Earthday 2024worked to create healthy communities for people and butterflies. Lots of new people discovered the Green Party. Plus, all of our milkweed seed packets were given out - meaning hundreds of new plants wil be blooming in Northwest Indiana this summer just in time for the monarch butterflies. It was a great way to spend Earth Day in Northwest Indiana.
Also, our local Greens table was pirated by our friends from NWI Medicare for All who were out taking surveys on healthcare. The survey is part of the National Nurses United Union's nationwide canvas.
For their May monthly gathering the NWI Green Party is moving to a Tuesday night, May 14th at 6:30pm at the Trailyard Coffeeshop/Restaurant just outside of Valparaiso. The Trailyard is located at 2551 Clifford Road, at the end of Frobrerg Road south of Lincolnway. Come and join us at one of the tables as we try out a Tuesday evening gathering.
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