President, The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester

This brief article urges everyone to register and vote and to volunteer to register others through the Rochester Voters Alliance, a coalition of local organizations doing a voter registration drive focused on those areas in Rochester most underrepresented and underregistered.

Register to Vote and then Go Out and Register Others

Anyone who reads or pays attention to the news is well aware that this Presidential election may well be one of the most critical in the nation's history.  It is crucial, therefore, that it reflect the true feelings of the American public and the only way for that to happen is if we all take part in the election.  Recognizing the importance of this basic civic act, The Intefaith Alliance of Rochester and the League of Women Voters have convened the Rochseter Voters Alliance, a coalition of over a dozen local non-profits, community groups, and religious organizations to participate in a registration drive aimed specfically at those city zip code areas that have historically had the lowest registration rates and voter turnout.

Besides TIAR and the League, particpating organizations include the AAUW, First Unitarian Church, YWCA, Interfaith Impact, Women of Reformed Judaism, Metro Justice, Fellowship of Reconciliation, ACLU, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Spiritus Christi, and others, along with many individuals who have learned of this effort and just wish to help out.  We urge you to sign on also and, if you belong to an organization that ought to be part of this, seek an official sign-on from it as well.  All of our registration activities and materials are strictly non-partisan so no one's tax status will be put in jeopardy.  Volunteers, individual or organizational, should contact Sally Chamberlain at 248-0765 for more information.

The Alliance has already registered hundreds of new voters through sending out volunteer teams to the various city festivals going on all summer and to locations in the targeted zip code areas where people are likely to congregate, seek services, or shop.  These include the Public Market, outreach houses, city groceries (we've had excellent cooperation from Tops) and inner city churches.  Volunteers are provided with training, registration packets, and various attention-getting devices.  Tables and chairs need to be provided by the volunteers, but this only means throwing a card table and a couple of folding chairs into your car when you go to one of the locations.  We are especially happy to have Spanish-speaking volunteers with us in those areas and events geared to the Hispanic community.

One last concern has come up many times.  Because of the publicity given to the inability of convicted felons to vote in some states, especially Florida, many loacl ex-prison inmates believe they are ineligible to vote here.  That is NOT true.  New York State does not prohibit convicted felons from voting if they have completed their sentence and parole.  Only if you are in jail or still on parole are you prevented from voting.  If you have completed your sentence and are no longer on parole, you are free to register and to vote.

So please sign up yourself.  If you have not registered yet, do so.  Help others to do this also by volunteering to help the Alliance.  And most importantly, get out and vote on election day.