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February 4, 2004
After the voter registration campaign
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The festivities of Eid Al Adha marked the beginning of an intensive drive to register Muslim voters with concerted efforts by all American Muslim political groups, organizations and Islamic centers to achieve the professed objective of registering one million new Muslim voters for the November elections.
In August last year, at the ISNA convention in Chicago, leaders of the American Muslim Political Coordination Committee (AMPCC) decided to launch an intensive campaign to register one million Muslim voters. The Council on American-Islamic Affairs (CAIR) led the nationwide voter registration campaign, although other organizations such as American Muslim Voice (AMV) and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) also played significant role.
Registration as a voter is the first thing to be part of the political process. However right to vote is not enough but going to polling station to vote is important. At the same time, the Muslim community has to participate in the whole political process and be proactive in order to make its voice effective.
Participation in the Democratic and Republican Parties primary election is very important in the electoral process. Primary election is an election within a party to decide who will be the party’s candidate in the general election. Each party holds its separate primaries. In some states, primaries are substituted by caucuses and a few states hold both primaries and caucuses.
Each party looks forward for supporters to run for delegate and alternate delegate positions. Become a party delegate. All states require delegate candidates to fill a “declaration of candidacy” in order to run.
All politics is local said late House Speaker Tip O' Neil of Massachusetts. The community should involve in local elections such as city councils, education boards and local commissions. It will be appropriate to recall the ten steps prescribed by the former Congressman of California, Tom Campbell, for the Muslim active participation in politics:
1. Send a member to every town hall meeting and ask questions about your problems and get a public commitment.
2. Campaign for a candidate early and not after the election. If you will support early you will be in a better position that the candidate listens to your problems and issues.
3. Send college students to Washington with a binder of your important issues. Nobody is going to ignore a student.
4. If and when a politician makes a promise hold him to it. For example President Bush should be reminded about Muslims vote for him.
5. Muslims must vote. All eligible voters should register themselves.
6. Form alliances with others.
7. Run for offices. Participate in the local commissions and community affairs.
8. Raise funds for your cause and for your candidate. Nothing happens for free.
9. Write letters to the editor about your issues.
10. Avoid easy outs. There is no “they” or “them.” Take action, only then you will become effective.
In the final analysis, the concerted and vigorous vote registration campaign has apparently motivated the community for political activism. However, the American Muslim political organizations face a daunting task of maintaining this momentum till November elections.
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