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VANS AGAINST BUSH


Bands! You can put your tour van to use!


by Al Larsen

 In 2000, less than half of 18-24 year olds were registered to vote. Of those, about 2/3rds actually voted in the national elections.

It can be intimidating to vote! Especailly if you've never voted before.

On top of feeling alienated and frustrated by the choices, it can be hard just to get to the polls! Sometimes you need to go to some church you've never heard of on the other side of town. And people's lives are complicated; it can be a pain in the ass to vote when you are juggling some combination of work, school, poverty, childcare and medical problems. I've missed my chance to cast a ballot on more than one occassion.

Bands - what's the age group that comes to your shows? Are you in a position to make an impact or what?

As a band, you probably have a tour van and someone in your group has a driver's license.

You're also no stranger to making flyers and talking to people.

You can punk the vote!

Start bringing voter registration forms to your shows now!

When it gets closer to election time, start arranging to pick up people on voting day and drive them to their polling place. Be prepared to take several trips! Sign people up ahead of time! At the cafe! At the bar! At your shows!

Before the election, do your own research or at least ask the local Greens for info on all the confusing initiatives and ballot measures and county commissioner and whatnot. That local stuff is important! Offer this info to your riders!

In Washington State, for example, there will be general elections this November 4th. You need to be registered 30 days beforehand, (15 days before if you register in person, such as at your county courthouse (call ahead to verify the correct place to register in person) and vote by absentee ballot) No, you won't be voting Bush and Cheney out (this November!) but consider it a chance at the very least to start turning your touring machine into a political machine.

Punk the vote!