For Immediate
Release: October 7, 2004
Contact: Christine A. Knickerbocker
Coordinator of Public Relations 845-692-4444, x-2547
email:
Christine_Knickerbocker@crvi.org
The League of
Women Voters (LWV) joined with the Wishes and Dreams self-advocacy group as
sponsors of a voter registration drive on Wednesday, September 29th
at the Crystal Run Village, Inc. main offices on Stony Ford Road in
Middletown. The event was organized for residents and staff of the agency
and local community members interested in registering for the first time and
for those who may have moved since the last election
The registration drive was attended by
Town of Wallkill Town Clerk Louisa Ingrassia, the town’s election official,
and Voting Machine Custodian Jay McClintock. For demonstration purposes they
brought with them an actual voting machine so that registrants could become
confident in the mechanical operation of the booth.
In a brief presentation, LWV
representative Lynda
Williford explained the
nonpartisan role of the LWV and its interest in strengthening democracy by
encouraging participation of all citizens in the process. “Voting is the
chance to choose the decision makers and being involved is a way of
communicating the things that are important to you,” she said. “People with
disabilities who vote represent the rich diversity of our communities.”
According
to Ben Clemens, an advisor for Wishes and Dreams, a primary goal of the
self-advocacy group is to understand their civic responsibilities and extend
opportunity to others. Wishes and Dreams is comprised of 24 people living in
residences managed by Crystal Run Village, Inc., a human services agency
providing services for the integration and empowerment of people with
intellectual disabilities.
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