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