As Vote for Change continues, with voter registration drives continuing with urgency ahead of state filing deadlines, one of the best places to hold drives has been at new citizenship ceremonies. Gabrielle, a resident of Miami-Dade, has been driving much of the grassroots effort in her part of Southern Florida. Gabrielle has hosted 16 voter registration events since June, including 10 at new citizenship ceremonies. Occurring roughly once a week, each event draws about 6000 new citizens over three sessions a day.
We speak to attendees as they line up and wait to go into the ceremony generally speaking about the importance of registering to vote to have a political voice, exercising their rights and protecting their future and democracy in America.
Gabrielle organizes her events well ahead of time, trying to bring the biggest Obama presence possible to the events.
I post on my.barackobama.com, send emails to my volunteer base, make calls to volunteers and Obama group leads, local Democratic organizations to get volunteers for theses events. I encourage them to sign up on MyBO so we are clear on resources available and where there are deficits. Training is done at the site/event as volunteers arrive. We train and register new volunteers for other events - canvassing etc. - during down time or otherwise place them strategically to cover flow of attendees and family to pass out lit and speak about the importance of registering to vote.
Gabrielle has been involved in political campaigns in the past, but has become particularly motivated to help the Obama campaign: just at the new citizenship events, she and the other volunteers have registered more than 3000 new voters.
I have spent most my life in other countries where voter turnout is above 70 percent. The United States has elected leadership based on general election population minority. We need to first get the voters registered, then educate them on the issues. The era of a voting minority acting as the majority voice and influence must end.
Gabrielle is still doing her part, with nine more new citizenship registration efforts planned. She is always looking for more volunteers. If you would like to help with a voter registration drive in your area or find out about your voter registration status, you can find information here.
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