Registering first time voters IMPORTANT!

Our local Dem committee had a booth at local festival last night and today. First time ever. In a heavily Repub county in upstate NY. It was a wonderful experience- we registered almost 2 dozen young Dems to vote in November, had several people visit and change their registration to Dem or at least Independent from republican, lots of positive responses. I am still feeling buzzed. A note to all inclined to write letters to the editor: Lots of kids who will be 18 in time to vote in this November's election DO NOT KNOW that they can and should register NOW - before their birthdays roll around- when it may be too late to register in time. Please get the word out. Thanks. We are planning to write to all local papers to do this, please help.

P.S. The local repub superviser looked shocked and appalled that the Dems had a booth at the event- as far as I can recall, they have never done so. They probably will next year, but we are already planning to do it again, bigger and better.

said he was a "disaffected Republican" He changed to Independent and took a Kerry button. Another man came and spoke to us for a long while and left. Twenty minute later he was back, pinned a Republican for Kerry button on his shirt and said he didn't care how much flak he would get, enough is enough. We applauded him as he left.

in the lobby of my YWCA this morning. It was non-partisan, but knowing the politics of this particular YWCA, I'm sure they were aiming to attract potential Dems.