Groups to register homeless to vote
Montgomery-Advertiser
By Markeshia Ricks • August 18, 2008
John Cook Thomas would like to cast his vote in the November election for Barack Obama.
"He's my man," the 67-year-old said. "I like him because he seems like he's honest and for change."
Despite living in the Salvation Army's homeless shelter, Thomas pays attention to politics and he plans to register to vote.
And advocates for the homeless and for voting are encouraging people like Thomas to get registered.
"When you're homeless you have a lot of issues you're dealing with," said Michael Stoops, project director for the 'You Don't Need a Home to Vote' campaign. "But some homeless folks are up on current events."
Thomas is one of those who keep up with current events in spite of the other problems in his life. He came to live in the shelter almost four months ago after his disability check was reduced. But he's aware the outcome of the presidential election does have an impact on his life.
Beth Marra, director of Family Promise of Montgomery, said she's planning to get voter registration applications for the people who come to her.
Family Promise of Montgomery mostly helps homeless families that have at least one working parent with no other issues such as mental, physical or substance abuse problems.
"This is really the first time since we've been open that there has been a presidential election," she said. "It's important to have this available to them because they're still citizens. They're working and struggling to get back to stability, but they should still participate in this process because it is their right and responsibility as a citizen," Marra said.
Stoops, who is also the acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said his organization is asking advocate groups in all 50 states to get people registered.
Special drives will be held Sept. 21-27 to register homeless and low-income people to vote to coincide with the registration deadlines of most states. The last day to register to vote in the November election in Alabama is Oct. 24.
"Homeless people have a right to vote," he said. "They want to be treated like citizens."
Stoops said the National Coalition for the Homeless had to take several states to court for disenfranchising homeless people, but there are no laws restricting homeless people from voting.
"Whether you live on the street or in a shelter, you can still register to vote," he said.
An attorney general's opinion confirms that the homeless can vote in Alabama, though the state does have language on the books to deny the vote to convicted felons and those who are deemed mentally incompetent.
An opinion written by then Attorney General Bill Pryor, said as long as a homeless person can identify a place where they can receive mail, and it's a place within a voting precinct, they can vote.
George Noblin, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Registrars, said the rationale behind needing an address to
vote is so that his office will know how to contact the person.
"We have to have a good address so once they register we can send them their voter identification card," he said. "It tells them where to go vote."
While the voter list also is used for jury duty selection, providing a physical address is important because it allows voting officials to contact someone if there is a problem with their application.
Capt. Roy Harris, commander of the local Salvation Army, said he hadn't thought about getting registration forms, but it's a good idea.
Already thinking ahead, he said he would need help transporting people to the polls.
Thomas said he actually would have to get his voting rights restored because he has a felony conviction, but he wants to get it all cleared up as soon as possible.
"I would like to try to do that this year in time for November," he said.
Montgomery-Advertiser
By Markeshia Ricks • August 18, 2008
John Cook Thomas would like to cast his vote in the November election for Barack Obama.
"He's my man," the 67-year-old said. "I like him because he seems like he's honest and for change."
Despite living in the Salvation Army's homeless shelter, Thomas pays attention to politics and he plans to register to vote.
And advocates for the homeless and for voting are encouraging people like Thomas to get registered.
"When you're homeless you have a lot of issues you're dealing with," said Michael Stoops, project director for the 'You Don't Need a Home to Vote' campaign. "But some homeless folks are up on current events."
Thomas is one of those who keep up with current events in spite of the other problems in his life. He came to live in the shelter almost four months ago after his disability check was reduced. But he's aware the outcome of the presidential election does have an impact on his life.
Beth Marra, director of Family Promise of Montgomery, said she's planning to get voter registration applications for the people who come to her.
Family Promise of Montgomery mostly helps homeless families that have at least one working parent with no other issues such as mental, physical or substance abuse problems.
"This is really the first time since we've been open that there has been a presidential election," she said. "It's important to have this available to them because they're still citizens. They're working and struggling to get back to stability, but they should still participate in this process because it is their right and responsibility as a citizen," Marra said.
Stoops, who is also the acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said his organization is asking advocate groups in all 50 states to get people registered.
Special drives will be held Sept. 21-27 to register homeless and low-income people to vote to coincide with the registration deadlines of most states. The last day to register to vote in the November election in Alabama is Oct. 24.
"Homeless people have a right to vote," he said. "They want to be treated like citizens."
Stoops said the National Coalition for the Homeless had to take several states to court for disenfranchising homeless people, but there are no laws restricting homeless people from voting.
"Whether you live on the street or in a shelter, you can still register to vote," he said.
An attorney general's opinion confirms that the homeless can vote in Alabama, though the state does have language on the books to deny the vote to convicted felons and those who are deemed mentally incompetent.
An opinion written by then Attorney General Bill Pryor, said as long as a homeless person can identify a place where they can receive mail, and it's a place within a voting precinct, they can vote.
George Noblin, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Registrars, said the rationale behind needing an address to
vote is so that his office will know how to contact the person.
"We have to have a good address so once they register we can send them their voter identification card," he said. "It tells them where to go vote."
While the voter list also is used for jury duty selection, providing a physical address is important because it allows voting officials to contact someone if there is a problem with their application.
Capt. Roy Harris, commander of the local Salvation Army, said he hadn't thought about getting registration forms, but it's a good idea.
Already thinking ahead, he said he would need help transporting people to the polls.
Thomas said he actually would have to get his voting rights restored because he has a felony conviction, but he wants to get it all cleared up as soon as possible.
"I would like to try to do that this year in time for November," he said.