DC Vote Supports DC's First-in-the-Nation Opportunities in 2008 Presidential Primaries

For more information contact: James Jones, Communications Director
202.462.6000 x12 office / 202.557.4864 mobile / jjones@dcvote.org

July 4, 2006

Washington, DC - Today, on Independence Day, DC Vote announced its support and advocacy for the District of Columbia's 2008 presidential nominating primary or caucus to be among the first-in-the-nation.

"Efforts by D.C. residents to achieve full and equal voting rights were energized by our 2004 'First-in-the-Nation' presidential primary," said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of DC Vote. "In 2008 the District of Columbia has an opportunity to be among the first in the presidential nominating process. DC Vote and its friends in the voting rights movement petition our national political leaders to demonstrate their support of full and equal voting rights for District residents by scheduling the 2008 DC presidential nominating contest among the first in the nation."

The Democratic National Committee is entering the final stages of a two year process to determine the presidential nominating process for 2008. On July 22 and 23, at a meeting in the District of Columbia, the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee will decide which state will conduct a presidential nominating caucus after Iowa and before the New Hampshire primary. The 2008 Iowa caucus is tentatively scheduled for January 14. The full DNC will meet August 17-19 in Chicago, Illinois to ratify the nominating calendar.

DC Vote will be organizing local officials, community leaders and other political figures to rally behind its support for a prominent 2008 District of Columbia presidential nominating contest. In addition, DC Vote will be sending letters to DNC Chair Gov. Howard Dean and members of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee.

DC Vote believes the District of Columbia is an ideal choice for a prominent presidential nominating contest for both the DNC and the disenfranchised residents of the District of Columbia. The coveted "second" spot will garner significant, national media attention and serve as a platform for educating Americans about disenfranchisement suffered on American soil. Democrats have long held that District residents deserve full and equal voting rights and statehood.

In its consideration for which state(s) to include in the "pre-window" nominating calendar, the DNC has sought a small, diverse jurisdiction where retail politicking can be conducted to an electorate of varied racial and ethnic makeup. In many ways the District of Columbia, with its majority African-American populace, growing Latino base and active LGBT community, is a microcosm of the Democratic electorate.

DC Vote believes that the effort to achieve full voting rights for District residents is strengthened by raising awareness nationally. Research has shown that most Americans are unaware of District residents' lack of voting rights and that once educated as to our plight an overwhelming majority find the situation unacceptable.

To bolster its public relations and advocacy efforts DC Vote has retained the services of the District of Columbia firm M+R Strategic Services and its staff members Sean Tenner and Chuck Thies, veterans of the DC voting rights movement.

DC Vote also urges the Republican National Committee to schedule the District of Columbia's 2008 presidential nominating primary and/or caucus to be among the first-in-the-nation.

For more information, visit http://www.dcvote.org/advocacy/dc2008.cfm.

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