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REGISTER TO VOTE!!Beginning on January 19 with the Iowa caucus (less than two months from now!), state primaries and caucuses will begin determining which of the Democratic candidates will face George Bush in the 2004 Presidential election. (A list of primary voting dates follows.)
Then on November 2, 2004 we will elect the next President of the United States!
Much is riding on next year's elections. New Supreme Court justices and other judicial appointments, ADA enforcement, IDEA reauthorization (unless Congress acts quickly), MiCASSA deliberations, funding for independent living centers, continuity of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, access to Medicare and Medicaid, low- income housing, transit and accessible technologies - these are just a few of the issues that will be shaped by the Democratic primaries and the November elections.
Whatever party you affiliate with or none at all, both political parties have a lot to gain or lose, and so do you. Republicans now control the White House and both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, albeit by slim majorities. Moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court consists of a majority of Republican appointees. Republicans have a chance to strengthen their hold, while Democrats have a chance at least to split control of the government. Remember Justin Dart's words: "Get into politics as if your life depends upon it, because it does."
Your vote makes a difference! Remember the 2000 election where a few hundred votes turned the presidential election. And it's not just the presidency and the U.S. Congress that will matter. Elections for governor, state legislatures, and many other state and local offices will be at stake.
Of course, you can't vote if you're not registered to vote. Most states require that registration information must be received or postmarked 20 to 30 days prior to an election. For the Democratic primaries, that means a deadline of as little as one month from now.
The website below provides access to a national registration form developed by the Federal Election Commission. (Click on National Mail Voter Registration Form for Public Use.) Although there are a few exceptions, the vast majority of states will permit you simply to print out this form and mail it in. The form includes instructions for each state about registration deadlines and mailing addresses. The National Mail Voter Registration Form website.
If you have difficulty accessing the pdf-file form, contact the Federal Election Commission at (800) 424-9530 or, in Washington, (202) 694-1100; TTY (202) 219-3336.
We should all be thankful for our right to vote. But let's be more than thankful - let's USE our voting power!
REGISTER TO VOTE!!
Jonathan Young
JFA Moderator, AAPD
2004 Presidential Primary Calendar (by state)
For an alternative listing by date (and dates for state and local primaries), visit: The National Association of Secretaries of States website.
Note: This calendar is based upon state determinations as of November 17, 2003. This list includes only presidential primary dates, and does not necessarily represent dates when state parties may be selecting their delegates to the national nominating conventions. Please contact the DNC or RNC for information on a state party's selection of convention delegates.
Alabama -- June 1
Alaska -- No primary
Arizona -- February 3
Arkansas -- May 18
California -- March 2
Colorado -- No primary
Connecticut -- March 2
Delaware -- February 3
District of Columbia -- January 13
Florida -- March 9
Georgia -- March 2
Hawaii -- No primary
Idaho -- May 25
Illinois -- March 16
Indiana -- May 4
Iowa -- January 19 (caucus)
Kansas -- No primary
Kentucky -- May 18
Louisiana -- March 9
Maine -- No primary
Maryland -- March 2
Massachusetts -- March 2
Michigan -- No primary
Minnesota -- No primary
Mississippi -- March 9
Missouri -- February 3
Montana -- June 8
Nebraska -- May 11
Nevada -- No primary
New Hampshire -- January 27
New Jersey -- June 8
New Mexico -- June 1
New York -- March 2
North Carolina -- May 4
North Dakota -- No primary
Ohio -- March 2
Oklahoma -- February 3
Oregon -- May 18
Pennsylvania -- April 27
Rhode Island -- March 2
South Carolina -- February 3
South Dakota -- June 1
Tennessee -- February 10
Texas -- March 9
Utah -- No primary
Vermont -- March 2
Virginia -- February 10
Washington -- March 2
West Virginia -- May 11
Wisconsin -- February 17
Wyoming -- No primaryMember Benefits | About AAPD | Join | Disability Resources | News | Contact Us | Calendar | Home