Gay vote expected to increase

Wed. October 1, 2008 12:00 AM by Kevin Wayne

November 4th election approaches, voter registration closes Oct. 7

Chicago, IL - The gay vote is becoming increasingly more important as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Americans have higher rates of voter participation.

Though voter turnout in the United States has decreased over the past decade, a 2007 national survey revealed that gay and lesbian consumers are far more likely to have voted in the last presidential and midterm elections than the population in general. According to the survey conducted by Community Marketing, Inc., more than 90 percent of gay and lesbian people surveyed voted in the 2004 presidential election.

According to the Stonewall Democrats, the nation's largest LGBT Democratic organization, 8 percent of delegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado self-identified as LGBT, Of the 4,400-plus delegates that attended, more than 370 are out LGBT people.

At the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, about 100 members of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation's largest LGBT Republican organization, and other delegates were in attendance.

Hundreds of LGBT elected officials serve nationwide.

On Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, voters will cast ballots for President, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and varied state, county and local offices.

To vote on November 4th, Illinois Voters must register by Tuesday, October 7th. To register to vote you must be a citizen of the United States and 18 years of age or older by November 4, 2008.

For more information on voter registration in Chicago, visit www.ChicagoElections.com or call (312) 269-7900. Cook County voters outside Chicago should visit voterinfonet.com.

Outside of Chicago find your voter registration information and more at maps.google.com/vote
 

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