- Florida

- Florida
UPDATE 3: Action Plan for the Florida Haitian-American Vote in 2008
Oct. 25, 2008, Source: "Y Savain" <ysavain@gmail.com>
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Action Plan for the Florida Haitian-American Vote in 2008
Oct. 25, 2008, Source: "Y Savain" <ysavain@gmail.com>


This election is still very close, especially in Florida. YOU and PEOPLE YOU
KNOW can make a difference if you VOTE and if they VOTE!

Only YOU can ensure this will happen, no one else can.

Close to 150,000 US citizens of Haitian descent in Florida are of voting age


AYISYEN BRAWAD, AYISYEN DED, MOUN IMOKALA, MOUN TANPA, ÒLANDO, DJAKSONNVIL,
TALAHASI, SI NOU ANREJISTRE POU VOTE, NOU OBLIJE VOTE. SE YON OBLIGASYON NAN
ENTERÈ-NOU.


1. FOR YOURSELF AND 5 OTHER REGISTERED VOTERS, DECIDE RIGHT NOW:

a) DAY AND TIME TO VOTE

b) WHERE YOU WILL VOTE

c) HOW WILL YOU GET THERE

d) WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU ARE INSIDE THE VOTING BOOTH.

Sonje, plen tout ti oval-la ak kreyon oswa plim.



http://www.browardsoe.org/



Action Plan for the Florida Haitian-American Vote in 2008



A critical election is upon us and Florida is a key state in play. At this
writing, September 21, 2008, Barak Obama and John McCain are neck and neck in
Florida opinion polls.



American citizens of Haitian descent have a unique opportunity to make a
difference in the final outcome because:



1) The margin of victory is expected to be thin across the country and in
Florida especially.



2) Haitians registered to vote have done so unevenly in the past and
therefore are unlikely to be in the sample of "likely" voters polled.



3) The number of US citizens in Florida of Haitian parentage eligible to
vote is nearly 200,000 (63,000 naturalized citizens in 2000 US Census; plus an
estimated 45,000 births between 1980 and 1988, plus migration of US born and
naturalized citizens from other states and new naturalized citizens).



4) To matter the Haitian American community must become a voting block
especially in Florida, otherwise its needs and preferences regarding US
domestic issues and US-Haiti relations will be ignored. After an election it
is easy to verify how many Haitian Americans actually came out to vote.



In this election year in Florida, 200,000 potential voters is anpil. But
unless a significant majority of eligible voters in the community actually
votes, the fact that Anpil moun voted will be meaningless. The Haitian
community in Florida should deliver a minimum of 150,000 votes. And here is how
one person can make a big difference in the outcome of the 2008 US presidential
election.



1) Send this email to as many people you know in the Haitian-American
community. Then set an additional goal for yourself to email and phone at
least 10 persons you know to be 18 years or older; born in the US or a
naturalized US citizen. First, find out if they are already registered to vote.
In Florida, registration for the general election ends on October 6. See
details at: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml.
If they have not yet registered help them get it done.



2) Quiz your friends and relatives registered to vote OFTEN between now
and elections day. Ask not only whether they plan to vote but



a. When do they plan to vote? Some can vote early, before ELECTION DAY
Tuesday November 4, 2008 (see Florida Secretary of State link above).

b. Where and at what time do they plan to vote?

c. What mode of transportation will they have access to on the day and
time they plan to vote?



Most important of all is the following Website: http://floridavoterfile.com/



You can learn whether:



1) Someone you know and are encouraging to vote is already registered.



2) You can also see your friends' voting history and check how successful
your getting-out-the-vote campaign was after the November 4th, 2008 elections.