Individuals and organizations all over the Twin Cities are working tirelessly on the voter registration effort. It has been reported that voter turnout in Minnesota will reach record numbers for this week’s elections. As a battleground state, where both presidential and vice-presidential candidates visit frequently,… Individuals and organizations all over the Twin Cities are working tirelessly on the voter registration effort. It has been reported that voter turnout in Minnesota will reach record numbers for this week’s elections. As a battleground state, where both presidential and vice-presidential candidates visit frequently, area residents are increasingly grasping just how important this election is.
Deborah Easter, of the November 2 campaign, along with many other sponsors are organized the “Get Out To Vote Action Day Rally” Saturday, October 30th at North Commons Park Building. The idea for the rally was actually a culmination of networking incentives brought together by KMOJ community radio.
Easter was hired as an organizer with November 2 in late September. As part of her outreach, she was invited to produce a KMOJ spot on-air every Thursday “to say something about voting,” she said. “I mentioned events, announcements, and other things going on in the community that had to do with voting. That is where the idea for a rally came about.”
Easter’s experience with organizing and voter registration came from her work with the Juneteenth Freedom to Vote Project. She al received support from her husband Fred Easter, who is the president of City, Inc. “The rally was supposed to be a small event in the Urban League parking lot, but as more people wanted to get involved, [the project] just kept growing,” she said.
The program included sponsors, speakers, entertainers, and others who spoke about the meaning and impact of everyone’s voice being heard in this year’s elections. “We’re not trying to beat people over the head about why they haven’t been voting, but we want them to be geared up and to get ready for what to expect,” she said.
11/01/2004
