In
exactly one year, we will head to the polls to decide who will
lead our country for the next four years. This next election will
be crucial to the future of our democracy, our Nations, and our
mother earth.
If
you're not registered to vote, now is the time to do so. It can
be done online with just a few clicks of the mouse (http://www.yourvotematters.org)
But you mustn't stop there. We need people like you to get actively
involved in educating voters, registering voters, and mobilizing
voters to get to the polls on November 4, 2004.
Not
sure where to start? Well, keep on reading.
The
National Congress of American Indians has a project called Native
Vote 2004 and is mounting an extensive voter mobilization in collaboration
with regional organizations, local tribal governments, centers serving
the Indian populations of urban centers, and non- governmental organizations
whose focus is on democracy initiatives. One of their efforts includes
a listerv for Natives engaged in voter work. For more information
about Native Vote 2004, please visit: http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/issues/other_issues/nativevote.asp
Several
national membership organizations have come together to create The
National Voice, a coalition of non-profit organizations working
to maximize voter participation. The goal is to increase voter registration
and participation in the democratic process. The website has an
extensive database of voter projects (are you on it?), information
about training and conferences, to name a few. National Voice can
also assist organizations in maximizing your voter efforts and finding
funding. They can assist in linking individuals to organizations
doing voter work. Check out the website at www.nationalvoice.org
or contact Alyssa Burhans at
alyssa@nationalvoice.org
Don't
sit this election out. Let's honor our ancestors by ensuring that
we carry forward the legacies of our people.
Five Free Things
Your Group Can Do to Increase Voter Participation in the Next Elections
1. Put On-line Voter Registration on your
web page
Working Assets has a cool free service
that lets you link directly to their voter registration tool from
you web page. They will handle all of the details of helping visitors
to your website get registered to vote in their home state. They
are also planning grants with this program. More info at:
http://www.yourvotematters.org
2. Talk about how important it is to vote
everywhere--in publications,
speeches, etc.
While it is not legal for non-profits
to campaign for any particular candidate or party it is totally
legal to do everything in your power to encourage voter participation.
3. Organize voter education, registration,
and get out the vote activities among your members, supporters,
and the general public
Find out about all of the activities
that you can legally engage in as a non-profit. The best current
summary of these can be found at www.nationalvoice.org
and click on the Library link.
4. Find Out about Great Ideas for organizing
Several listservs have been created
to share innovative, powerful local organizing ideas and activities
from all over the country. To sign-up for a trial subscription
just send an email to
mark@nationalvoice.org
or go to www.nationalvoice.org/listserves.
5. Join National Voice
National Voice was created to help non-profit
and community groups expand citizens participation in the
next elections. We provide information, technical assistance,
and direct support via our web page, hotline, teleconferences,
workshops, and trainings. Membership is free. Just go to www.nationalvoice.org.
For More Information contact National
Voice at 1-866-428-7228or by email at info@nationalvoice.org
|