Dems Seek to Boost Registered Voters
Saturday, April 20, 2002
WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party will launch a new voter education and mobilization campaign it hopes will get more older people, gays and lesbians and minorities onto registration rolls.
In the Democratic radio address aired Saturday, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., made no secret that he hoped the "Every Vote Counts" campaign would also boost the number of voters registered to his party.
"So as a democrat with a small 'd,' I truly believe that a higher voter turnout will make the nation stronger," Rangel said. "And as a Democrat with a big ``D,'' I believe that greater political participation will be good for my party."
Three out of 10 Americans eligible to vote are not registered, with percentages lower significantly for groups including minorities, younger Americans and people with disabilities, the congressman said.
"These statistics represent a crisis in our civil society," he said.
Democrats will kick off the efforts Wednesday with a series of events around the country. Among them is a fund-raising concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City's Harlem neighborhood, which is in Rangel's district.
The drive will build on recent legislative efforts that Rangel said expanded political and voter participation, citing the campaign finance reform bill recently signed into law by President Bush as an example.
"Getting people on the rolls is just the first step," he said. "We need to maintain a consistent dialogue with these new registrants."
"If the last presidential election proved anything, it's that every vote really does count."
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