Yarmuth's Registration Drive Connects to History, but Could Provide Political Boost
By Trey Pollard
LOUISVILLE -- Wednesday marked the anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For the campaign of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, the day was marked by an event conscious of both history and politics, as Yarmuth and a collection of volunteers, staffers, and elected officials held a voter registration canvass in west Louisville.
"This is the 43rd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act," Yarmuth told PolitickerKY.com. "This is somewhat symbolic, but it's also something we are going to emphasize from now until October 6. That is making sure that everyone who can not only is registered, but is encouraged to vote so that the great effort that went into that piece of legislation in 1965 is not wasted."
U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) on Wednesday: Politicker photo
While connecting to that history, the effort is also part of a campaign push to mobilize new support for both Yarmuth's re-election bid and the presidential campaign of presumptive Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
In a rematch of the 2006 race for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District that propelled him into office, Yarmuth is facing former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup this year. Yarmuth topped Northup by 2.4 percent during their last race.
This year, many analysts expect Obama's purported popularity among young voters and African-Americans to drive voter turnout figures up.
Yarmuth, a vocal Obama supporter during the spring primary season, feels he can benefit from the turnout boost.
"We feel strongly that there are going to be many, many new voters that are going to come out for Barack, and they are going to vote for me," said Yarmuth. "We are going to make sure we get as many new voters that we can."
About twenty-percent of the 3rd district's constituency is African-American, and many of those residents live in the west end of Louisville - where Wednesday's canvass took place.
Louisville Metro Councilwoman Judith Green, a Democrat who represents part of west Louisville, joined in the canvass that she said targeted a community where hurdles to voting have existed in the past.
Voter registration table at the Yarmuth campaign's registration drive on Wednesday: Politicker photo
"Down here in the west end, African American voters have traditionally been disenfranchised and discriminated against," said Green.
"We are trying to make this a community effort and to let this community know we are encouraging those folks that have been disenfranchised for whatever reason to come on and register to vote to try and get their voting rights back," she added. "We've got people to help them to do that."
State Rep. Reginald Meeks (D-Louisville) said the registration drive not only could help add new voters, but also put Yarmuth's name out in the community.
"There is a two-fold goal: to put Congressman Yarmuth in a situation where he is actually meeting face-to-face with area voters and talking about the issues that are of importance to them and to him and then, secondly, of course, to register anyone we can."
October 6 is the deadline for Kentuckians to register to vote for this November's general election.
The event was the first in a series of community initiatives for Yarmuth's campaign entitled entitled "Making a Difference."
8/7/2008
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