Voter Registration Drive Targets the Homeless in 16 States, D.C.

[Rose Siding]

BOSTON, July 22 -- Of all the political activists in this city, Jim Cronin might be the most unlikely.

An ex-convict who has been homeless since 1994 -- and a self-described "horrendous drunk" for most of his life -- Cronin, 65, had an epiphany a few months back while talking with another guest at the Pine Street Inn, a Boston shelter, about the importance of voting.

Within days, Cronin and his friend Fred Atkinson began encouraging their fellow guests to register to vote. Since then, the two men have visited dozens of Massachusetts shelters to sign up more than 400 homeless men and women.

"The condition of being homeless is always feeling 'less than' or 'not a part of.' I know voting helps them, because of how it has helped me feel like I belong," Cronin said. "This is an election year, and it's like living in the shadows if you're not part of the process."
...
Cheri McCulley, 34, has been homeless for about a month, along with her three children, said she has never voted. But when she saw a flier posted in the Women's Hope Transitional Home, in Dorchester, Mass., she knew the time had come.

"I never cared much about voting one way or the other until I ended up in this situation," she said. "I'll support anyone with a program to help people get out of shelters and back into the real world."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7534-2004Jul22.html?nav=rss_politics/elections/2004

[NV Whino]

1. Correct me if I'm wrong

But don't you have to have a permanent address in order to register?

[Zidane]

2. No

You do not. As much as the repubs don't want the homeless to vote they most certainly have that right.

Many of them put the address of the shelter they stay at. That is perfectly legal.

[sandnsea]

4. current address

And if they move from the homeless shelter, hopefully they will be able to, then they'd have to change their address and I hope somebody is telling them that.

[Zidane]

5. How soon must they update the address

after they move?

[sandnsea]

6. It varies

Whatever the cutoff date is for registering because if you're not registered in th right precinct, you can't vote as far as I know.

[shockingelk]

7. In MN

You can show up on election day with something like a bill addressed to you and register to vote. I'm thinking it has to be post marked within a certain time period ... so not sure how much it helps homeless people.

[Randomthought]

9. mailing address

To register to vote you need a permanent address where you can receive mail. You don't have to be living there--for example college students who are registered in the precinct where their parents live even though they do not live there most of the time.
It's the same with the homeless, they can use the address of a shelter that will accept and hole their mail for them.
Also many shelters are also polling places for the homeless.
'Go vote and get a hot meal.'

[Zidane]

3. This is kind of worrying

""I'll support anyone with a program to help people get out of shelters and back into the real world." "

This is desperation talking not critical thinking. While bush would probably have a harder time getting away with it - repub running for other offices may be able to fool people in to believing they actually have a solution to their problem. This is something they are great at...

[Spiffarino]

8. No reason to worry

People vote for far more idiotic reasons than that.

"My church said I should vote for Mr. X."
"He has a nice face."
"Even if Joe Blow would be a better president, I like the other guy's personality."
"Because she's against_______." <insert single issue here
"Because he's for ________." <insert single issue here

[jayfish]

10. It's Hard To Have A Solution To...

a problem that doesn't exist. Just ask the Cons. They'll tell you all about it.

Jay