A Declaration by Yao Lifa and 57 Other Candidates for People’s Representative in Qianjiang City, Hubei Province

November 6, 2016

Mr. Yao Lifa (姚立法) has been an advocate of grassroots elections in China since 1998. – The Editors

Yao Lifa

We live on the lowest rung of society; we yearn for a brighter future.

We think that changing the status quo isn’t as arduous as some people make out — because we can vote.

We have the right to elect the electorate group leader and deputy group leader in our constituency,

We have the right to jointly nominate preliminary candidates for People’s Representative elections,

We have the right to be nominated as preliminary candidates for People’s Representative elections,

Our approval or disapproval of preliminary candidates is the basis on which the election committee decides the formal list of candidates for People’s Representative elections,

We have the right to meet and ask questions of these preliminary candidates,

We have the right to fill out the ballot according to our true personal intent,

We have the right, on election day, to oppose the candidates who have been officially nominated and to instead vote for the candidates of our own choice!

We have the right to boycott the candidates who are either rich or politically powerful, or who aren’t qualified to be People’s Representatives,

People’s Representatives at the county level and below are directly elected by us — which actually means that we are indirectly electing the county chief, the district chief, and the president of the court, among others.

We believe that the ballot is the origin of power and that we are masters of power and masters of the country.

If we give our vote to a wicked man, then it would be no surprise if the officials in government and judiciary committed wicked acts.

We can no longer play dumb, and pretend we don’t understand what is going on.

We’re now uplifting our own spirits, and getting clarity of mind.

We, who wish with all our hearts to wake up the true holders of power of this country, hereby sign a declaration to run as candidates for the office of People’s Representative — for the purpose of enlivening those who possess both virtue and talent, who wish to uphold the interests of the people, and who are capable of navigating the political world, to step forward in front of the people and allow themselves to be elected.

We, who wish with all our hearts to wake up the true holders of power of this country, hereby sign a declaration to run as candidates for the office of People’s Representative, so as to awaken other voters, to help the scales fall from their eyes, and to tell them that they should only vote according to their own true wishes, and give their vote to only those they know, understand, and trust will dare to truly represent them.

Candidates for People’s Representative in Qianjiang City county-level, or county and township-level elections, hereby sign their names as follows:

   1、姚立法 Yao Lifa 18972198964
   2、伍立娟 Wu Lijuan 13707227753
   3、潘向荣 Pan Xiangrong 15826894661
   4、黄行芝 Huang Xingzhi 13117123901
   5、李万凤 Li Wanfeng 13235535449
   6、陈平 Chen Ping 13545969565
   7、刘应安 Liu Ying’an 13307228233
   8、郑康元 Zheng Kangyuan 18871545639
   9、彭峰 Peng Feng 17763002016
   10、李银秀 Li Yinxiu 15307224834
   11、谢光武 Xie Guangwu 13886956727
   12、王荣州 Wang Rongzhou 18972192635
   13、张玉还 Zhang Yuhai 15027298826
   14、彭平 Peng Ping 13886993522
   15、彭其林 Peng Qilin 13477476246
   16、王兰英 Wang Lanying 15926057377
   17、彭其玉 Peng Qiyu 15007227885
   18、杨汉珍 Yang Hanzhen 13545951139
   19、王敏 Wang Min 15629292880
   20、程伟 Cheng Wei 13697367565
   21、杨军 Yang Jun 13098347832
   22、吴海啸 Wu Haixiao 18672688297
   23、彭桃山 Peng Taoshan 17764122210
   24、陈中进 Chen Zhongjin 13277451381
   25、李金萍 Li Jinping 13277681278
   26、曾祥军 Zeng Xiangjun 13047147834
   27、彭宣明 Peng Xuanming 13733405538
   28、彭红颜 Peng Hongyan 13407285151
   29、朱文芳 Zhu Wenfang 13886957415
   30、余后群 Yu Houqun 18986958435
   31、邱永红 Qiu Yonghong 15671161887
   32、谢书珍 Xie Shuzhen 15549091682
   33、余士平 Yu Shiping 13647289355
   34、彭武松 Peng Wusong 13872966565
   35、李家林 Li Jialin 13380885590
   36、曾令鑫 Zeng Lingxin 15586301051
   37、余桃珍 Yu Taozhen 15871898973
   38、汪华 Wang Hua 13477421986
   39、彭晓星 Peng Xiaoxing 13886964517
   40、郑文华 Zheng Wenhua 13907224856
   41、万小云 Wan Xiaoyun 15027298155
   42、康姣英 Kang Jiaoying 13972619064
   43、彭冬香 Peng Dongxiang 13545973116
   44、丁元顺 Ding Yuanshun 13687239542
   45、李翠莲 Li Cuilian 15027296876
   46、王冬梅 Wang Dongmei 15826928270
   47、孙惠 Sun Hui 13368295239
   48、杨春光 Yang Chunguang 13972924798
   49、廖梅枝 Liao Meizhi 15827972048
   50、毛大明 Mao Daming 15671196630
   51、朱春风 Zhu Chunfeng 18995999430
   52、杨文平 Yang Wenping 15727289188
   53、翟前枝 Zhai Qianzhi 13094298755
   54、嵇金涛 Ji Jintao 15572801432
   55、陈代玉 Chen Daiyu 17092691730
   56、徐金平 Xu Jinping 18972192378
   57、张高兵 Zhang Gaobing 13872967108
   58、张文芳 Zhang Wenfang 07286201460