-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Majordomo Account [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Justice For All Moderator
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 12:15 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Paratransit Ordered to Provide Voter Registration!


                      Justice For All

                      [log in to unmask]

       Paratransit Ordered to Provide Voter Registration!

Please distribute the following a.s.a.p.

Paratransit Ordered to Provide Voter Registration!

February 10, 2000

Dear Advocates and Friends:

Help make April and May voter registration months!

Congratulations to the persistent and hard working advocates in
Pennsylvania.  Their lengthy court battle has been won!  A recent
District
Court decision (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now v.
Thomas J. Ridge, Docket Number 94-CV7671, January 14, 2000 - unpublished
decision) in Pennsylvania has mandated that Paratransit agencies provide
voter registration opportunities to their clients.  The decision reads,
"Defendants are hereby ordered to designate as voter registration
agencies
the appropriate offices within the Commonwealth which provide
state-funded
ADA complementary Paratransit programs..."  The Pennsylvania Court
upheld
the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter) which requires
that
paratransit and other disability service providers offer voter
registration
to their clients.  There are approximately one million people with
disabilities who receive paratransit rides and at least 400,000 of these
individuals are not registered to vote.

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!

Contact your Paratransit Providers and demand that they make April and
May
Voter Registration Months.  Insist that the Paratransit drivers provide
riders with the opportunity to register to vote at least during the
months
of April and May (or until they have offered registration to all of
their
riders).  The drivers should offer voter registration cards to each
rider
and collect either a completed registration card or a signed document
that
indicates that the individual chose not to register to vote.

The Courts are a political entity.  They follow election results.  With
the
Supreme Court about to decide on the constitutionality of Title II of
the
ADA, let's showcase the disability community as a substantial voting
block.
People with disabilities must register and vote!

For further information contact the N.O.D. VOTE! 2000 Campaign at
[log in to unmask]


--
Fred Fay
Chair, Justice For All
[log in to unmask]
http://www.jfanow.org

Register to Vote Online at http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm

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