AIDS Institute launches election effort (12919)

The Tampa, Fla.-based AIDS Institute on Wednesday announced the agency's new "4x4 Initiative," aimed at encouraging participation in upcoming local, state, and federal elections. The initiative includes the following objectives for its participants: educating at least four people that voting makes a difference in their community; helping at least four nonregistered voters become registered; helping to staff booths to register voters at community events; planning to assist voters in getting to the polls on Election Day; and encouraging absentee voting by registered voters who may find it difficult to get to the polls on Election Day. "This is the AIDS Institute's commitment to ensuring all eligible Americans are registered to vote and participate in elections for local, state, and federal seats this fall and through 2010," says institute executive director Gene Copello.

Packets for volunteers participating in the initiative, which include voter registration forms for each state, are available from the institute. For more information about the campaign or to obtain a volunteer packet, visit the institute's Web site at www.theaidsinstitute.org, send e-mail to info@theaidsinstitute.org, or call (800) 779-4898. To register to vote online, go to www.beavoter.org or www.rockthevote.org. For more information on the presidential candidates' positions on AIDS issues, go online to www.aidsvote.org.