About 30 volunteers from several GLBT community service and political organizations hit the streets at Northalsted Market Days Aug. 5-6, registering more than 1,570 voters for the general election this fall. That count edges a “We Are Voting Illinois” thermometer, erected in the vicinity of Halsted and Roscoe, to past 15 percent of the community’s goal to register 10,000 GLBT voters by the beginning of October.
“We had an incredible turnout of volunteer support for the drive kickoff this past weekend,” said Edward Abdalla, coordinator of the coalition, which includes AIDS Foundation of Chicago, American Civil Liberties Union, Equality Illinois, Human Rights Campaign Illinois, Personal PAC, Planned Parenthood and Stonewall Democrats.
“From everything we heard from people on the street, members of the GLBT community understand the importance of this election,” said Abdalla. “We know that whomever wins the presidency could appoint two to four Supreme Court judges who could serve for the next 20 to 30 years.”
For more information, to get involved in the registration drive, or for registration forms, contact Edward Abdalla at (773) 883-0676, or, e-mail We Are Voting Illinois at wavi2000@hotmail.com. The AIDS Foundation can be reached at (312) 922-2322, kreitan@aidschicago.org.
Voter registration deadline is Oct. 7 for the Nov. 7 elections.