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ANCA "Hye Voter Turnout" Campaign In Full Swing

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  • ANCA "Hye Voter Turnout" Campaign In Full Swing

    Armenian National Committee of America
    888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
    Washington, DC 20006
    Tel: (202) 775-1918
    Fax: (202) 775-5648
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Internet: www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    October 6, 2004
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918

    ANCA "HYE VOTER TURNOUT" CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING

    -- Record Armenian American Turnout
    Expected on November 2nd

    WASHINGTON, DC - With only a few weeks left to the November 2nd
    Presidential and Congressional elections, Armenian National
    Committee of America (ANCA) chapters have teamed up with activists
    across the country, as part of the ANCA's "Hye Voter Turnout"
    campaign, to make their last push to ensure record levels of
    Armenian American participation in the electoral process.

    Over the past several months, local ANCA chapters have been working
    within their communities to raise awareness about federal, state
    and local candidates and the issues facing the Armenian American
    community. A powerful tool in this effort has been the ANCA
    Candidate Questionnaire, available on the ANCA website, which has
    provided candidates from across the nation with the opportunity to
    speak directly to their Armenian American constituents. The ANCA
    Congressional Candidate Questionnaire includes nine different
    questions on the topics of the Armenian Genocide; U.S. support for
    Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh; U.S.-Armenia economic relations;
    Self-determination for Nagorno Karabagh; Conditions on U.S. aid to
    Azerbaijan; the Turkish blockade of Armenia, and; the U.S. subsidy
    of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline bypass of Armenia. For an Adobe PDF
    version of the ANCA Questionnaire, visit:
    http://www.anca.org/election/candidate_questionnaires.asp

    The ANCA has also teamed up with local Armenian Youth Federation
    chapters in national voter registration efforts, working to
    increase the Armenian American voice at the ballot box. Activists
    have set up registration tables at local churches, community
    centers and even local business establishments, providing the forms
    and information needed to register. These efforts have made it
    easy for young people to register through the ANCA voter
    registration website and "Rock the Vote," MTV's youth voter
    education program.

    At the national level, the ANCA has endorsed Senator John Kerry as
    clearly the better candidate on issues facing the Armenian American
    community. At the same time, the ANCA - locally and nationally -
    continues to highlight the powerful leadership demonstrated by a
    great many Congressional Republicans on Armenian issues, notably by
    Armenian Caucus Co- Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Genocide
    Resolution author George Radanovich (R-CA), and Senators such as
    Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Ensign (R-NV), George Allen (R-VA),
    Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), and many others.

    Working with local chapters or Armenians for Kerry, the ANCA has
    spent the past several months raising awareness of Senator Kerry's
    20-year record of supporting Armenian American concerns - on issues
    ranging from recognition of the Armenian Genocide and self-
    determination for Nagorno Karabagh, to increased aid, expanded
    trade, and an end to the blockades of Armenia. The ANCA
    endorsement of Senator Kerry includes a full review of the
    Senator's record as well as a listing of the many areas in which
    President has disappointed the Armenian American community. This
    text can be found at:
    http://www.anca.org/pressrel.asp?prid=605&pressregion=anca

    The ANCA's "Hye Voter Turnout" four-part strategy in support of the
    Kerry-Edwards ticket was formally launched on August 28th, with the
    Armenstock 2004 / Kef for Kerry event in Massachusetts
    (www.armenstock.com). This major day-long music festival featured
    leading Armenian musicians and speeches by Armenian activists and
    elected officials, including Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and
    James McGovern (D-MA), as well as State Representatives Peter
    Koutoujian and Rachel Kaprielian. Additional get-out-the-Armenian-
    vote concerts are planned as part of the Kef for Kerry Tour of
    Battleground States. The tour includes stops in the key swing
    states of Wisconsin - October 8th, Michigan - October 23rd, Florida
    - October 24th, and, Pennsylvania - October 29th. For additional
    information, visit: www.kefforkerry.com.

    The second element of the ANCA plan was the "Friends for Kerry
    Postcard Campaign," which debuted at Armenstock. This campaign
    circulated tens of thousands of pre-addressed postcards which were
    sent by Armenians in solidly pro-Kerry states like New York and
    California to fellow Armenians in twelve swing states: Arizona,
    Arkansas, Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada,
    Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The
    postcard urges voters to "compare the records of Senator Kerry and
    President Bush on Armenian issues, to weight the importance of your
    ballot for the future of US-Armenian relations, and the please
    consider casting your vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket on November
    2nd."

    The third part of the ANCA plan is a series of "Calling for Kerry"
    weekends on October 9-10 and October 30-31. Building on the
    postcard campaign, local activists are teaming up with Armenian
    Youth Federation and Armenians for Kerry chapters in hosting
    gatherings and "cell phone parties" to reach out to thousand of
    Armenian American households in sixteen swing states. In addition
    to supporting the Kerry-Edwards ticket, activists will highlight
    the need for strong turnout for friends of Armenia in Congress,
    both Democratic and Republican. The fourth and final part of the
    ANCA effort is a grassroots "Canvassing for Kerry" program that
    will go door-to-door to getting out the vote for John Kerry and
    other friends of Armenia on Election Day.
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