Advocates, shelters step up efforts to register homeless voters for fall election

[babylonsister]

More homeless people expected to vote this fall

Advocates, shelters step up efforts to register homeless voters for fall election

WHITNEY MALKIN
AP News

Jul 29, 2008 14:17 EST


Among the record number of voters expected to cast ballots this fall may be an increase from an often-invisible population — the homeless.

Advocacy groups and shelters across the country have stepped up efforts to register the 3.5 million people who drift in and out of homelessness in the United States.

"Just because we're homeless or low income doesn't mean we don't have an opinion," said Estelle Bearcub, who plans to vote for Barack Obama. "It's our right to vote. And it's our right to have our opinion count, too."

The homeless have sometimes struggled to participate in the political process, in large part because of requirements in Washington and 39 other states that voters list a mailing address.

Volunteers encourage transient voters to use the address of the shelter or soup kitchen they frequent in order to receive an absentee ballot. In states that require a physical address, voters can list a park or intersection where they sleep.

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/07/more_homeless_people_expected.php

[Crazy Dave]

1. There's a lot more homeless people now than 4 years ago

Two families I know are living in a shelter downtown and they only have about nine months to find new jobs and an affordable place to live or they're out on the street to make room for more families who have lost their jobs, their homes and even their cars. And not due to alcohol or drugs either.