WHEREAS:

A majority of people who are registered to vote actually do vote. According to the Current Population Survey, among people who were registered to vote in the November 2000 presidential election, 86 percent reported that they voted-up from 82 percent in the 1996 election and down from the 1968 election's historic high of 91 percent; and

WHEREAS:

In the 2000 election, however, the percentage of the voting-age population who were registered was at an all-time low of 64 percent, down from a high of 74 percent in 1968, the first year for which data are available; and

WHEREAS:

Although 70 percent of voting age citizens were registered to vote in 2000, registration rates dropped between the 1996 and 2000 elections for men, women, non-Hispanic Caucasians and all age groups below 65; and

WHEREAS:

Between 1996 and 2000, registration rates remained unchanged for Blacks, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and those 65 and older-though 6 percent of African American, 39 percent of Hispanics and 41 percent of Asian and Pacific Islanders were not U.S. citizens and therefore couldn't register; and

WHEREAS:

In most states, 95 percent of the voting-age population are eligible to register. However, the presence of significant non-citizen immigrant populations has particularly profound implications in 3 states in which AFSCME is ambitiously organizing and very active politically: in California 20 percent of the population are not U.S. citizens; Florida and New York each have non-citizen populations of 13 percent; and

WHEREAS:

Approximately 65 percent of AFSCME members are now registered to vote.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME affirm its commitment to the long-term goal of registering 100 percent of its 1.3 million members to vote, 80 percent of which would be registered to vote by the November 2002 elections, and that it support that commitment with available union resources. AFSCME councils and locals should utilize cost-effective methods to register 80 percent of their respective membership; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME members seize or create opportunities to educate their co-workers, families, friends and communities on the importance of registering and voting in the 2002 elections and beyond; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to support AFL-CIO constituent groups and other like-minded organizations in their efforts to increase minority voter registration and electoral participation.

SUBMITTED BY:

Lillian Roberts, Executive Director and Delegate
AFSCME Council 37
New York