CAIR Launches Eid Voter Registration Drive

Washington, DC: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged American Muslims to register to vote at events nationwide on the eve of the Eid ul-Adha holiday. CAIR's Eid voter registration drive was part of a major non-partisan Muslim political mobilization effort to be conducted during the 2006 election cycle.
The effort included in-person and online voter registration drives, candidate forums, production of voter guides, get-out-the-vote campaigns, conducting research on and surveys of American Muslim voters, and other grass-roots activities. CAIR also called on Muslim students to volunteer in political campaigns.
On January 10, Muslims in America marked the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations at locations around the country. The prayers, and the holiday that follows, are called Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice." Eid ul-Adha commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command. The holiday is celebrated with prayers, gifts for children, distribution of meat to the needy, and social gatherings.
"We call on Eid event organizers to set up voter registration booths after prayers and during other holiday activities," said CAIR Government Affairs Director Corey Saylor. "If all eligible American Muslims are registered to vote, and then go to the polls on election day, our community's voice will be heard and our issues will be addressed by elected officials."
Saylor noted that the entire US House of Representatives and one-third of the US Senate will be up for re-election in November. He said each state has its own voter registration rules and that CAIR will provide assistance to Muslim activists who wish to organize voter drives. (SEE: National Mail Voter Registration Form)
Muslims first participated in a bloc vote during the 2000 presidential election. During the 2004 elections, Muslims showed increasing organization through major get-out-the-vote drives in key states such as Ohio and Florida. CAIR also conducted exit polls to track Muslim voting trends.

 

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