Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Spc. Kevin Lomen fills out his voter registration information during a drive at Camp...... read more read more
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By Spc. Wesley Landrum
50th Public Affairs Detachment
KUWAIT - Lomen was one of 65 people who registered to vote during a voter registration drive held at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Mar. 29.
Lt. Col. Michael Griffin, Multi-National Corps - Kuwait redeployment cell officer-in-charge, said more than 600 service members registered to vote during the two-month drive. He said a modest goal was set, but once the drive started, the group had to reassess things.
"We have a goal of 600. Originally, when we started, our goal was to get 200," Griffin said while helping a sevice member register. "Because we were so successful, we raised the goal and set it at 600."
Griffin said the voter registration drive was sponsored by the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Founded in 1911, the fraternity picked voter registration as a national project for the year.
Griffin said, with the presidential election coming up in November, the timing could not have been better. Not only will Americans vote on a new president, but also 33 senators, 453 representatives and thousands of state and local officials will be up for election.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Jones sat down later in the evening and registered.
"I appreciate the group taking the time to let the service members' voice be heard by registering us to vote," said Jones, a native of Canton, Miss.
Jones said Americans wield a lot of power this election year. He said the person that is placed in the White House will, make a decision that will affect the lives of millions of Americans and the world's population.
"Just to have a voice to elect an official with that much power is a blessing," Jones said.
Griffin said the two-month drive has been a huge success. With more than 600 people registered, he said the fraternity did their part to ensure Americans exercised their rights and voted, albeit, through absentee ballots.
"It's a civil right," Griffin said. "The exciting part is there a lot of young Soldiers that have never registered to vote. This way, we can get them to register.
"It's great just seeing the Soldiers come out and ask questions," he continued. "It shows that, because a big decision is going to be made in the upcoming year, they're interested. If we can get them interested, they'll vote."
After completing the form, Lomen stood up from the table and handed over his form to the attendant. With a smile on his face, he shook Griffin's hand and walked away. The young specialist said voting is one of those civil liberties that people neglect.
"If you don't vote, you have no right to complain," Lomen said.
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2008 04:01 |
| Story ID: | 18436 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 85 |
This work, Arifjan rocks the vote with voter registration, by SGT Wesley Landrum, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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