AMT Spells out
Four Key Steps
By Hazim Kira
Washington, DC
Still engaged in negotiations
with presidential candidates October 19, 2004),
the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and
Elections (AMT), a national coalition of ten major
organizations, has decided to delay its final decision
till the end of this week. It has however, urged
the community to take four key steps - registration,
education, mobilization and documentation - in the
intervening 15 days.
As recently reported
by USA Today “In an election that could once again
be razor-close, the support of Muslims - whose estimated
numbers nationwide range from 1.2 million to 7 million
- could be crucial. The Bush and Kerry campaigns
have courted Muslim voters, particularly in swing
states like Ohio and Florida, as well as Michigan,
which has the nation’s largest Arab-American population”.
Cognizant of the role
that the American Muslim voters can play in this
election, the AMT wants American Muslim voters to
be aware of “the photocracy and the appointment-seekers”,
keep their eyes on real issues like civil liberties,
human rights, war, jobs, and health care, enhance
their internal organization, demonstrate moral courage
and political discipline, and maximize their impact
by taking the following four steps in the next 15
days.
1) Voter Registration
- Continue with voter registration in those states,
such as Wisconsin, Vermont, South Dakota, North
Dakota and Iowa, where there is still time to register
to vote. Also, try to obtain absentee ballots for
those who are planning to be out of town on Nov
2, the day of election.
2) Voter Education -
The AMT wants its members and supporters to continue
with community education forums and seminars. But
at this stage, the AMT advises that such forums
should be focused on ‘ballot’ literacy. AMT member
organizations and community groups can organize
these forums by 1) obtaining the actual ballot from
the secretary of state or the county election office,
2) making a poster of the ballot or making several
copies of the ballot, 3) walking the local community
through each item on the ballot.
“If people don’t know
what are they voting for, if they don’t know who
they are voting for, then why should they vote,”
observes AMT chair Dr. Agha Saeed. The purpose of
the ballot literacy programs is to make them knowledgeable
about the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of the actual contents
of the ballot.
This information should
be provided by an individual or group of individuals
fully knowledgeable about the contents of the ballot.
Make sure that Muslim voters are as knowledge as
local and state issues as about federal and international
issues. These educational programs should be premised
on a ‘think globally and act locally’ approach.
3) Voter Mobilization:
“Unless American Muslims vote, vote together for
a common purpose, and vote in large numbers”, says
AMT Chair Dr. Agha Saeed, “their efforts to end
their present condition of second-class citizenship
will remain unsuccessful”.
Muslim community leaders
need to know why people don’t vote. What are the
underlying reasons for not going to the polls? According
to a recent Census Bureau survey, time constraint
is the single biggest reason given by Americans
for not voting. Here is a summary of their findings:
- NO TIME : 21.5%
- Didn’t Like Candidates:
13%
- Ill or Faced Emergency:
15%
- Lacked Transportation:
4%
- Out of Town: 11%
- Polls too Long: 1%
- Failed to Make it:
21.3%
- Declined to State
13. 2
The AMT recommends that
the community leaders should find a suitable response
for each of the above obstacles: help those who
are going to be out of town, or who are ill, or
who cannot get time off from work, to obtain absentee
ballots, provide transportation for those who lack
transportation, and remind, encourage and car pool
with those likely to forget.
4) Voter Documentation
- Though the AMT and several of its member organizations
are planning to conduct nationwide surveys and studies
of Muslim voter turnout and voting patterns, the
AMT wants local groups and organizations to help
document and publicize the Muslim vote. A proven
record of American Muslim vote - voting in high
numbers, together, and for a common purpose - is
one of our greatest strengths as citizens of the
Unites States.
As reported in the recent
issue of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs,
the Convention of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA),
one of the ten national organizations comprising
AMT, held in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 25, 2004
was concluded with the following recommendations:
“As Nov. 2 approaches it becomes increasingly apparent
that each vote will count. Every eligible voter
must register, do the research, make an informed
selection, go to the polls and make a choice. As
we leave the polling station, throw your modesty
away, walk up to any journalists or exit pollsters
you see, introduce yourself and tell them who you
voted for and why. Maybe this time the media will
report that Muslim- and Arab-Americans, and peace
activists, voted overwhelmingly for one candidate
and explain why.”
For more information
visit www.AmericanMuslimVoter.Net
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