PROTECT YOUR PRECIOUS RIGHT TO VOTE!

WHAT: Receive training on Wed., Sept. 14 to become an Election Day monitor on Sept. 20 and help investigate the impact of Georgia's new photo identification law which restricts the right to vote.

WHERE: The offices of Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan LLP, 999 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. Come to the 27th Floor.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Refreshments Provided.

WHO: Georgia State Conference of NAACP Branches; ACLU Voting Rights Project and ACLU of Georgia; Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda; Southern Christian Leadership Conference; League of Women Voters, Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF)

WHY:
On March 31, House Bill 244 passed the Georgia General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. Sonny Perdue in April, reducing the various forms of identification that voters can use from 17 to six, and making government-issued photo identification absolutely required in order to vote.

The NAACP, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, the League of Women Voters, the Georgia ACLU, AARP and dozens of other religious, community, government, civil rights and community groups opposed this legislation because it will result in discrimination against elderly, low income, minority and student voters. That is because many members of these demographic groups lack drivers licenses, or don't possess birth certificates other costly documentation - such as a U.S. passport - that is required for them to obtain a state-issued identification card. Despite broad based opposition the U.S. Department of Justice allowed the law to go into effect on August 26.

On Sept. 20, 2005, there will be a series of special elections across more than 30 counties in Georgia, (including Cobb and Habersham, near metro Atlanta) and voters without proper photo identification will be turned away from the polls. Other elections in Macon, Augusta also elsewhere will be monitored.

Election Day volunteers are urgently needed to monitor the polls in Cobb and Habersham Counties on Sept. 20 to investigate the possible discriminatory impact of Georgia's photo ID law. We need your help! As part of this effort there will be a special two-hour training session at the offices of Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan, 999 Peachtree Street NE in Atlanta from 5-7p.m. on Wednesday, September 14. The event is free and open to the public.

If you can participate, please RSVP to dlevitas@aclu.org, and tell him that you are a member of the Atlanta Area Democrats group.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Tisha Tallman, MALDEF: (678) 559-1071 [tallman@maldef.org ]
Daniel Levitas, ACLU Voting Rights Project: 404-523-2721 x 231 [ dlevitas@aclu.org ]


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HURRICANE KATRINA - COLLEGE ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITY

As you know many hurricane Katrina victims have arrived in Atlanta. I received this information from Michael Thurmond’s office as a result of my service to Fulton County’s Workforce Investment Board. I am pleased to share it with you and hop you will forward it along to others. The following opportunity is being provided for “Any college student displaced from Hurricane Katrina wishing to continue their education may attend Georgia State University for a maximum of $100.00. This price includes all mandatory fees, late fees and tuition”!

“This is only the second week of school, so they will not have missed much. This offer is for the fall semester only. If they are interested in enrolling immediately, please note the following information”:

DeAnna Hines
Assistant Vice President for University Relations
Georgia State University
404-651-3025

Or

Report to: The Office of Admissions
Sparks Hall 200 located at the corner of Gilmer and Courtland Streets.

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POLITICAL COCKTAILS

We are proud to announce our next event:

Political Cocktails: Metropolitans Connect
September 19, 2005 | 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Vision Night Club and Bar
1068 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Log onto: http://www.PoliticalCocktails.com
This will be the largest social and political gathering of its kind that
Atlanta has ever seen!
We encourage you to register online. Dress code will be strictly enforced.
Register/RSVP
Online
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DEKALB YD PANEL Q&A

The Dekalb County Young Democrats and the Young Democrats of Emory University will host a Community Forum on Young People Running for Elected Office. This special event will take place at the White Hall Auditorium at Emory University on Wednesday September 28th at 7pm.

Featured panelists will include State Representative Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Decatur City Commissioner Kecia Cunningham, District Attorney Gwen Keyes, and State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan. Please join our group of excited young Democrats as we hear and learn from this distinguished panel of guests. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.dekalbyd.com.

Tim Cairl
President, Dekalb Young Democrats
www.dekalbyd.com