Published: October 03, 2008 04:04 pm      

Deadline approaching, mobile voter registration unit on the move

Chelsea L. McGowan

cmcgowan@weatherforddemocrat.com

As America gears up for the Nov. 4 election, polls are predicting a record turnout among voters for both parties. The last day to register to vote is Monday, and a Mobile Voter Squad will be traversing Parker County in an effort to make sure every eligible county resident is able to vote.

“We want to make sure that everyone who wants to vote, can vote,” said Deb Cascino, chairman of the Parker County Democratic party, the organization which is sponsering the registration drive. “We’re trying to do that not as a Democrat or a Republican, but as Americans. We want to get Americans, and particularly young and first time voters engaged in the process. Once someone votes in one election, they’re liable to vote in other elections. Voter registration isn’t a party activity, it’s an American activity.”

The mobile voter squad will answer calls all day on Monday, even going to potential voters’ houses and businesses if need be.

“This is probably the most vitally important election of our time,” said Cascino. “We want everyone that wants to vote to be able to vote. We’ll come to their front door, we’ll go to their office… whatever we need to do to get people registered to vote. Elections can be won and lost by one vote, so every single vote counts.”

Robert Parten, Parker County Elections Administrator, said the election headquarters staff has already seen a surge of registrations, and that he hopes the trend continues through the close of Monday.

“If you’re not registered, you’re not eligible to vote in the election,” Parten said. “It can’t get anymore important than that. I think it’s important that instead of waiting until Election Day to find out that you’re not registered, you need to make an effort to get that confirmed as soon as possible. They need to give us a call before the end of the day on Monday, and we can get them registered. The applications need to be postmarked on the 6th of October.”

Unlike in some other states, Texan voters don’t register with any particular party. As such, voter registration drives are essentially bi-partisan. For more information on how to register to vote for the Nov. 4 election, call the Parker County Election headquarters at 817-598-6185.