The Get Out the Vote Coalition (GOTV) was proud to present its 2008 election campaign, called, simply, "Vote."  YWCA Lake County, the Lake County Clerk's office, the League of Women Voters, College of Lake County, Citizen Action Illinois, NAACP North Chicago, Waukegan Leadership Council, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights banded together to promote registration activities and voting awareness particularly in communities that were either in need of empowerment or were least likely to vote:

• Young people between the ages of 18 and 34
• African Americans
• Latinos
• Naturalized citizens
• Young, unmarried women

In the 2004 election, only 64% of U.S. citizens age 18 and older voted. Voting is an important right that everyone should excercise but few take advantage. Even many of those that register don't go to the polls on election day. Voting gives power to the people to decide the fate of our community and country.
The concept behind the campaign was based on the old proverb "Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil." If you don't excercise your right to vote, your power as a citizen is diminished. The campaign was designed to promote understanding of the individual candidates from as high as the presidential candidates to local candidates. It was also designed to promote understanding of the individual issues that effect Americans today: health care, women’s rights, the War in Iraq, immigration, the foreclosure crisis and more. Many people are not entirely aware of how these issues impact them and where the candidates stand on each issue.

For more information on voting, check out the links below. Know Your Rights Voter Information How to Vote Polling Locations Absentee Voting Early Voting Provisional Voting

With these thoughts in mind the GOTVC implemented a GOTV awareness campaign at a press conference July 4, 2008 at Sunset Park in Highland Park. The campaign consisted of:

• Registration opportunities
• Candidate’s forums for the 8^th and 10^th Congressional districts 
• Issues forums
• Get out the vote activities the day of the election

The Get Out the Vote Coalition encourages everyone to know the issues, know the candidates, get registered, vote.  

Disclaimer: All information contained within has been provided by the Lake County Clerk or by the candidates themselves. The YWCA Lake County is not responsible or liable for information